XXVI. As snow in summer, and aas rain in harvest,

bSo honour is not cseemly for a fool.

2  As the dbird by wandering, as the dswallow by flying,

So ethe curse causeless shall not come.

3  fA whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

And ga rod for the fools’ back.

4  hAnswer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

5  iAnswer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in * his own conceit.

6  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool

Cutteth off the feet, and kdrinketh * damage.

7  The legs of the lame * are not equal:

So is a lparable in the mouth of fools.

8  * As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,

bSo is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9  As ma thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a lparable in the mouth of fools.

10  * The great God that nformed all things

Both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11  As pa dog returneth to his vomit,

So qa fool * returneth to his folly.

12  rSeest thou a man wise in his own conceit?

sThere is more hope of a fool than of him.

13  tThe slothful man saith, There is ua lion in the way;

A lion is in the streets.

14  As the door turneth upon his hinges,

So doth the slothful upon his bed.

15  wThe slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;

* It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16  The sluggard is wiser xin his own conceit

Than yseven men that can zrender a zzreason.

17  He that passeth by, and * ameddleth with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18  As a mad man who casteth * firebrands, arrows, and death,

19  So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,

And saith, Am not I in sport?

20  * Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:

So where there is no * talebearer, bthe strife * ceaseth.

21  As ccoals are to dburning coals, and wood to fire;

So is ea contentious man to kindle strife.

22  fThe words of a talebearer are as wounds,

And they go down into the * innermost parts of the belly.

23  gBurning lips and a wicked heart

Are like a potsherd hcovered with silver idross.

24  He that hateth * kdissembleth with his lips,

And layeth up deceit within him;

25  lWhen he * speaketh fair, believe him not:

For there are yseven abominations in his heart.

26  Whose * hatred is covered by deceit,

His wickedness shall be mshewed nbefore the whole congregation.

27  oWhoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:

And he that rolleth a stone, it will preturn upon him.

28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it;

And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.