1 Like the snow in the summer, and like the rain in the harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.10 An archer piercing anything, so [is] hiring a fool or hiring those passing by.11 Like a dog returning to its vomit [is] a fool repeating his folly.12 Do you see a man wise in his eyes? Hope [is] for a fool more than him.13 A lazy one says, “A lion [is] in the road! A fierce lion [is] in the broad places!”14 The door [that] turns about on its hinges, so [is] a lazy one upon his bed.15 A lazy one hides his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.16 Wiser [is] a lazy one in his eyes, than seven returning a reason.17 One grabbing hold on the ears of a dog passing by, [is] a passerby in a quarrel not unto him.18 Like a madman shooting firebrands arrows, and death,19 so [is] the man who has deceived his neighbor, and he says, “Am I not playing?”2 Like the sparrow in fluttering, like the swallow in flying, so a curse without cause does not come.20 With the end of the wood, the fire [is] quenched, and without one whispering, strife quiets down.21 Charcoal to burning coals, and wood to a fire, so [is] a man of quarrels to kindle strife.22 The words of one whispering [are] like morsels being swallowed, they even go down [to] the chambers of the belly.23 Silver of dross laid over an earthen vessel [are] burning lips and a heart of evil.24 With his lips the one hating disguises [it], and within himself he places deceit.25 When his voice is favorable, you should not trust in him, for seven abominations [are] in his heart.26 Hatred is concealed by deceit; his wickedness will be uncovered in the assembly.27 The one digging a pit, he will fall into it; and the one rolling a stone, to him it will return.28 A tongue of deceit hates its oppressed ones, and a smooth mouth causes ruin.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be likened to him—even you.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his eyes.6 Cutting off feet, drinking violence, [is] sending a message by the hand of fool.7 Legs hanging limp from lameness [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.8 Binding up a stone in a sling, so [is] giving honor to a fool.9 A thorn [that] goes into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.