1. It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.
2. Curses will not harm someone who is innocent;they are like sparrows or swallows that fly around and never land.
3. Whips are for horses, and harnesses are for donkeys,so paddles are good for fools.
4. Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,or you will be just like them.
5. Answer fools when they speak foolishly,or they will think they are really wise.
6. Sending a message by a foolish personis like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7. A wise saying spoken by a foolis as useless as the legs of a crippled person.
8. Giving honor to a foolish personis like tying a stone in a slingshot.
9. A wise saying spoken by a foolis like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk.
10. Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing byis like an archer shooting at just anything.
11. A fool who repeats his foolishnessis like a dog that goes back to what it has thrown up.
12. There is more hope for a foolish personthan for those who think they are wise.
13. The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the road!There’s a lion in the streets!”
14. Like a door turning back and forth on its hinges,the lazy person turns over and over in bed.
15. Lazy people may put their hands in the dish,but they are too tired to lift the food to their mouths.
16. The lazy person thinks he is wiserthan seven people who give sensible answers.
17. Interfering in someone else’s quarrel as you pass byis like grabbing a dog by the ears.
18. Like a madman shootingdeadly, burning arrows
19. is the one who tricks a neighborand then says, “I was just joking.”
20. Without wood, a fire will go out,and without gossip, quarreling will stop.
21. Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going.
22. The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food;people like to gobble them up.
23. Kind words from a wicked mindare like a shiny coating on a clay pot.
24. Those who hate you may try to fool you with their words,but in their minds they are planning evil.
25. People’s words may be kind, but don’t believe them,because their minds are full of evil thoughts.
26. Lies can hide hate,but the evil will be plain to everyone.
27. Whoever digs a pit for others will fall into it.Whoever tries to roll a boulder down on others will be crushed by it.
28. Liars hate the people they hurt,and false praise can ruin others.