[1] Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,    So honor is not fitting
for a fool. [2] Like a fluttering sparrow,    Like a darting swallow,	 So
the undeserved curse doesn`t come to rest. [3] A whip for the horse, a
bridle for the donkey,	  And a rod for the back of fools! [4] Don`t answer
a fool according to his folly,	  Lest you also be like him. [5] Answer a
fool according to his folly,	Lest he be wise in his own eyes. [6] One
who sends a message by the hand of a fool    Is cutting off feet and
drinking violence. [7] Like the legs of the lame that hang loose:    So is
a parable in the mouth of fools. [8] As one who binds a stone in a sling,  
 So is he who gives honor to a fool. [9] Like a thornbush that goes into
the hand of a drunkard,    So is a parable in the mouth of fools. [10] As
an archer who wounds all,    So is he who hires a fool	  Or he who hires
those who pass by. [11] As a dog that returns to his vomit,    So is a fool
who repeats his folly. [12] Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?    There
is more hope for a fool than for him. [13] The sluggard says, "There is a
lion in the road!    A fierce lion roams the streets!" [14] As the door
turns on its hinges,	So does the sluggard on his bed. [15] The sluggard
buries his hand in the dish.	He is too lazy to bring it back to his
mouth. [16] The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes    Than seven men who
answer with discretion. [17] Like one who seizes a dog`s ears	 Is one who
passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own. [18] Like a madman who
shoots firebrands, arrows, and death, [19] Is the man who deceives his
neighbor and says, "Am I not	   joking?" [20] For lack of wood the fire
goes out;    Where there is no gossip, a quarrel dies down. [21] As coals
are to hot embers,    And wood to fire,    So is a contentious man to
kindle strife. [22] The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,    They
go down into the innermost parts. [23] Like silver dross on an earthen
vessel	  Are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart. [24] A
malicious man disguises himself with his lips,	  But he harbors evil in
his heart. [25] When his speech is charming, don`t believe him;    For
there are seven abominations in his heart: [26] His malice may be concealed
by deception,	 But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. [27]
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.	  Whoever rolls a stone, it will
come back on him. [28] A lying tongue hates those it hurts;    And a
flattering mouth works ruin.