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26 Like snow in summer and like rain at gathering time, so honor is not right for a fool.

Like a sparrow in its traveling, like a swallow in its flying, so bad words said against someone without reason do not come to rest.

A whip is for the horse, leather ropes are for the donkey, and a stick is for the back of fools.

Do not answer a fool by his foolish ways, or you will be like him.

Answer a fool in the way he has earned by his foolish acts, so he will not be wise in his own eyes.

He who sends a letter by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and brings trouble upon himself.

A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like the legs on a man who cannot walk.

He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.

A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a man who drinks too much.

10 He who hires a fool or hires those who pass by is like a man who uses a bow to hurt everyone.

11 A fool who does his foolish act again is like a dog that turns back to what he has thrown up.

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the way! There is a lion in the streets!”

14 As a door turns, so does the lazy man on his bed.

15 The lazy man buries his hand in the dish. It makes him tired to bring it to his mouth again.

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a wise answer.

17 He who passes by and has a part in someone else’s fight is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like a crazy man who throws pieces of burning wood and arrows of death, 19 so is the man who fools his neighbor with a lie, and says, “I was only joking.”

20 When there is no wood, the fire goes out. Where there is no one telling secret stories about people, arguing stops.

21 An arguing man makes fights worse. He is like coals to burning wood and wood to a fire.

22 The words of one who tells secret things about people are like good-tasting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.

23 Burning lips and a sinful heart are like a pot covered with silver waste.

24 He who hates covers it up with his lips, but stores up false ways in his heart. 25 When he speaks with kindness, do not believe him, for there are seven things that are hated in his heart. 26 Even if his hate is covered with false ways, his sin will be found out in front of the great meeting.

27 He who digs a deep hole will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a mouth that speaks false words destroys.