Chapter 26

Similitudes, Instructions

1 Like snow in summer and like arain in harvest,

So honor is not bfitting for a fool.

2 Like a asparrow in its 1flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

So a bcurse without cause does not 2alight.

3 A awhip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a brod for the back of fools.

4 aDo not answer a fool according to his folly,

Or you will also be like him.

5 aAnswer a fool as his folly deserves,

That he not be bwise in his own eyes.

6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence

Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

7 Like the legs which 1are useless to the lame,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like 1one who binds a stone in a sling,

So is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn which 1falls into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 1Like an archer who wounds everyone,

So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

11 Like aa dog that returns to its vomit

Is a fool who brepeats 1his folly.

12 Do you see a man awise in his own eyes?

bThere is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The asluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion is 1in the open square!”

14 As the door turns on its hinges,

So does the asluggard on his bed.

15 The asluggard buries his hand in the dish;

He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

16 The sluggard is awiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can 1give a discreet answer.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and 1meddles with astrife not belonging to him.

18 Like a madman who throws

aFirebrands, arrows and death,

19 So is the man who adeceives his neighbor,

And says, “bWas I not joking?”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no awhisperer, bcontention quiets down.

21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a acontentious man to kindle strife.

22 The awords of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the 1innermost parts of the body.

23 Like an earthen avessel overlaid with silver bdross

Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

24 He who ahates disguises it with his lips,

But he lays up bdeceit in his 1heart.

25 When 1he aspeaks graciously, do not believe him,

For there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Though his hatred acovers itself with guile,

His wickedness will be brevealed before the assembly.

27 He who adigs a pit will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates 1those it crushes,

And a aflattering mouth works ruin.