Similitudes and Instructions

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.

2As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.

3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.

7The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.

11As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.

12Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!

14[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.

15The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.

17He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?

20Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.

21[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.

22The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:

25when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.

27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

28A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.