Observations about fools, sluggards, and busybodies.

¹⁾As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honourhonor is not seemly for a fool.

²⁾As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

³⁾A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

⁴⁾Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

⁵⁾Answer 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 drinketh damage.

⁷⁾The legs of the lame are not equal:; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁸⁾As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honourhonor to a fool.

⁹⁾As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouthsmouth of fools.

¹⁰⁾The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

¹¹⁾As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

¹²⁾Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³⁾The slothful man saith, There is a 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⁾The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

¹⁶⁾The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷⁾He that passeth by, and meddleth 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 neighbourneighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰⁾Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

²¹⁾As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

²²⁾The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

²³⁾Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

²⁴⁾He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

²⁵⁾When he speaketh fair, believe him not:; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶⁾Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewedshowed before the whole congregation.

²⁷⁾Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:; and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

²⁸⁾A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.