16. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyesthan seven men who answer with discretion.
17. Like one who grabs a dog’s earsis one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18. Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19. is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20. For lack of wood a fire goes out.Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21. As coals are to hot embers,and wood to fire,so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22. The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,they go down into the innermost parts.
23. Like silver dross on an earthen vesselare the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,but he harbours evil in his heart.