Proverbs

26 As snow in summer and as rain in harvest So unbecoming to a dullard is honour.

2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying So a causeless curse shall not alight.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass And a rod for the back of dullards.

4 Do not answer a dullard according to his folly, Lest even thou thyself become like him;

5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, Lest he become wise in his own eyes.

6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, Is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.

7 Useless are the legs of the lame And a proverb in the mouth of a dullard.

8 Like tying a stone to a sling So is he that giveth honour to a dullard.

9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, A proverb into the mouth of dullards.

10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [So] one who hireth a dullard and a drunkard crossing the sea.

11 As a dog returneth onto his own vomit A dullard repeateth his folly.

12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes,—More hope of a dullard than of him!

13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.

14 The door turneth on its hinges And the sluggard upon his bed.

15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, Than seven persons who can answer with judgment.

17 As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog Is a passer-by who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel not his.

18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death

19 So is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, And saith, Was not I in sport?

20 Without wood a fire is quenched And where there is no tattler strife is hushed.

21 Black coal to burning blocks and wood to fire So is a contentious man for kindling strife.

22 The words of a tattler are dainties, They therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.

23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware So are burning lips with a mischievous heart:

24 With his lips the hater dissembleth, But within himself he layeth up deceit:

25 Though he make gracious his voice do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart:

26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, His wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.

27 He that diggeth a pit thereinto shall fall, And he that rolleth a stone upon himself shall it return.

28 A false tongue hateth them who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth worketh occasion of stumbling.