Chapter 26

¹As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool. ²As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man. ³A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools. ⁴Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him. ⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise. ⁶He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity. ⁷As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in the mouth of fools. ⁸As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool. ⁹As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to silence, appeaseth anger. ¹¹As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly. ¹²Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be more hope of a fool than of him. ¹³The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads. ¹⁴As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. ¹⁵The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth him to turn it to his mouth. ¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that speak sentences. ¹⁷As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel. ¹⁸As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death : ¹⁹So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest. ²⁰When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease. ²¹As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife. ²²The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly. ²³Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross. ²⁴An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit. ²⁵When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven mischiefs in his heart. ²⁶He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid open in the public assembly. ²⁷He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return to him. ²⁸A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.