Chapter 26

  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.  

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  As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.  

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  A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.  

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  Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.  

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  Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.  

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  He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.  

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  Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.  

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  As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.  

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  A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.  

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  Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.  

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  As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.  

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  Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!  

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  The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'  

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  The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.  

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  The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.  

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  Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.  

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  Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.  

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  As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,  

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  So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'  

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  Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,  

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  Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.  

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  The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.  

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  Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.  

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  By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,  

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  When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.  

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  Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.  

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  Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.  

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  A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!  

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