26 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,m

honor is inappropriate for a fool.n

2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,o

an undeserved curse goes nowhere.p

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,q

and a rod for the backs of fools.r

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishnesss

or you’ll be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishnesst

or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.u

6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s handv

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.w

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like lame legs that hang limp.

8 Giving honor to a fool

is like binding a stone in a sling.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like a stick with thorns,

brandished byD the hand of a drunkard.

10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by

is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,

so also a fool repeats his foolishness.x

12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?y

There is more hope for a fool than for him.z

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—

a lion in the public square!”aa

14 A door turns on its hinges,

and a slacker, on his bed.ab

15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!ac

16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiserad

than seven who can answer sensibly.

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his

is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,ae

19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood, fire goes out;

without a gossip, conflict dies down.af

21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.ag

22 A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.A,a

23 SmoothB lips with an evil heart

are like glaze on an earthen vessel.b

24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech

and harbors deceit within.

25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,

for there are seven detestable things in his heart.c

26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,

his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,

and whoever rolls a stone—

it will come back on him.d

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

27 Don’t boast about tomorrow,

for you don’t know what a day might bring.e

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—

a stranger, and not your own lips.f

3 A stone is heavy, and sand a burden,

but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

4 Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,

but who can withstand jealousy?g

5 Better an open reprimand

than concealed love.h

6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,i

but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.j

7 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,k

but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

8 Anyone wandering from his home

is like a bird wandering from its nest.l

9 Oilm and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.C

10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,n

and don’t go to your brother’s house

in your time of calamity;

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.o

11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,p

so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.q

12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;

the inexperienced keep going and are punished.r

13 Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners.D,s

14 If one blesses his neighbor

with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

15 An endless dripping on a rainy day

and a nagging wife are alike;t

16 the one who controls her controls the wind

and grasps oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

and one person sharpens another.E

18 Whoever tends a fig treeu will eat its fruit,v

and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,

so the heart reflects the person.

20 Sheol and Abaddonw are never satisfied,x

and people’s eyes are never satisfied.y

21 As a crucible refines silver,

and a smelter refines gold,

so a person should refine his praise.a

22 Though you grind a fool

in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,

you will not separate his foolishness from him.b

23 Know well the condition of your flock,c

and pay attention to your herds,

24 for wealth is not forever;d

not even a crown lasts for all time.

25 When hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grain from the hills is gathered in,

26 lambs will provide your clothing,

and goats, the price of a field;

27 there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—

food for your household

and nourishment for your female servants.e