Similitudes and Instructions

1Like the snow in the summer, and like the rain in the harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2Like the sparrow in fluttering, like the swallow in flying,

so a curse without cause does not come.

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

and a rod for the back of fools!

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

lest you be likened to him—even you.

5Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he become wise in his eyes.

6Cutting off feet, drinking violence,

is sending a message by the hand of fool.

7Legs hanging limp from lameness

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8Binding up a stone in a sling,

so is giving honor to a fool.

9A thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10An archer piercing anything,

so is hiring a fool or hiring those passing by.

11Like a dog returning to its vomit†

is a fool repeating his folly.

12Do you see a man wise in his eyes?

Hope is for a fool more than him.

13A lazy one says, “A lion is in the road!

A fierce lion is in the broad places!”

14The door that turns about on its hinges,

so is a lazy one upon his bed.

15A lazy one hides his hand in the bowl;

it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16Wiser is a lazy one in his eyes,

than seven returning a reason.

17One grabbing hold on the ears of a dog passing by,

is a passerby in a quarrel not unto him.

18Like a madman shooting firebrands

arrows, and death,

19so is the man who has deceived his neighbor,

and he says, “Am I not playing?”

20With the end of the wood, the fire is quenched,

and without one whispering, strife quiets down.

21Charcoal to burning coals, and wood to a fire,

so is a man of quarrels to kindle strife.

22The words of one whispering are like morsels being swallowed,

they even go down to the chambers of the belly.

23Silver of dross laid over an earthen vessel

are burning† lips and a heart of evil.

24With his lips the one hating disguises it,

and within himself he places deceit.

25When his voice is favorable, you should not trust in him,

for seven abominations are in his heart.

26Hatred is concealed by deceit;

his wickedness will be uncovered in the assembly.

27The one digging a pit, he will fall into it;

and the one rolling a stone, to him it will return.

28A tongue of deceit hates its oppressed ones,

and a smooth mouth causes ruin.