Chapter Twenty-Six

Honor no more befits a fool than snow the summer or rain the harvest time.

Like a sparrow that flits about or a fluttering swallow an undeserved curse will never light upon its victim.

A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey — and a rod for the back of a fool.

Do not reply to a fool with his own folly, or you yourself will be as foolish as he is.  Reply to a fool by showing up his folly or else he may regard himself as wise.

Entrusting a message into the hands of a fool is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.

A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like the limp legs that hang down from a paralyzed man.

He who honors a fool is like one who ties a stone to a slingshot.

A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunkard.

One who hires a fool or anyone who passes by is like an archer that shoots his arrows at random.

As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

There is more hope for a fool than there is for one who, in his conceit, regards himself as wise.

The lazy man declares, “There’s a lion in the street,  a fierce lion roaming the public square!”

The door swings on its hinges the way the lazy man turns over on his bed.

The lazy man puts his hand into his food dish, but is too weary to bring it to his mouth.

The lazy man regards himself as wiser than a throng of people who can give a reasonable counsel.

Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Like a lunatic who shoots flaming darts and deadly arrows is the man who tricks his neighbor and then says, “I was only joking!”

Without wood the fires dies out.  Without a gossip the quarrel dies out.

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to a fire, so does a contentious man fuel strife.

The words of a gossip are like wounds that penetrate the innermost part of the soul.

Like earthenware glazed with a silver dross are the ardent words of a wicked heart.

The hater dissembles with his words, but in his heart he harbors deceit.  Though his speech be gracious, do not believe him, for his heart is filled with abominations.  His hatred may be disguised by his deceit, but his wickedness will be revealed before the whole community.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.  Whoever rolls a stone will find the stone rolling back upon him.

The lying tongue hates those it hurts.  The flattering mouth works ruin.