1 Like snow in summer oru[1 Sam. 12:17] rain in harvest,
sov[ver. 8] honor iswch. 17:7; 19:10 not fitting for a fool.
2 Likexch. 27:8; Ps. 84:3 a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
y[Num. 23:8; Deut. 23:5; 2 Sam. 16:12] a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 z[Ps. 32:9] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
andaSee ch. 19:29 a rod for the back of fools.
4 b[2 Sam. 16:11; 2 Kgs. 18:36; Luke 23:9] Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 cSee Matt. 16:1-4; 21:24-27 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he bedch. 28:11; [Rom. 12:16] wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet ande[ch. 13:2; Job 15:16] drinks violence.
7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
isf[ver. 1] one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Likeg[ch. 23:35] a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.1Or hires a fool or passersby
11 LikehCited 2 Pet. 2:22 a dog that returns to his vomit
isi[Ex. 8:15] a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who isjch. 28:11; [Rom. 12:16] wise in his own eyes?
kch. 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 lch. 22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets! ”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 mch. 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard isj[See ver. 12 above] wiser in his own eyes
n[ver. 25; ch. 6:16]; See Job 5:19 than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throwso[Isa. 50:11] firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I am only joking! ”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is nopch. 16:28 whisperer,qch. 22:10 quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
so isrSee ch. 15:18 a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 sch. 18:8 The words ofp[See ver. 20 above] a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 t[Matt. 23:27; Luke 11:39] Like theuSee ch. 25:4 glaze covering an earthen vessel
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 vSee Ps. 28:3 when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there arew[ver. 16] seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 x[ch. 28:10]; See Ps. 7:15 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.