1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
2As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
4Answer not a fool according to his folly,
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
7The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
9[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
10[As] an archer that woundeth all,
11As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?
13The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
14[As] the door turneth upon its hinges,
15The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
17He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
18As a madman who casteth firebrands,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,
20For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
23Fervent lips and a wicked heart
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
25When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile,
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.