Proverbs 26
A fool is not suited for glory, and a curse without cause will not harm its intended target. A fool should not be responded to in kind, lest one becomes like them, but rather should be answered in a way that shows their foolishness. A foolish person cannot properly use wisdom or proverbs, and their words can cause harm. A lazy person is self-deceived and appears wiser than they are, while a gossip can stir up conflicts, and an angry person can cause quarrels. A deceitful person's true nature will eventually be revealed, and those who do evil will ultimately be harmed by their own actions.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolishLike a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass awayA whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudentDo not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like himRespond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wiseWhoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquityIn the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolishJust like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolishIn the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolishJudgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates angerLike a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishnessHave you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for himThe lazy one says, "There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bedThe lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouthThe lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgmentsJust like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of anotherJust as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto deathso also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, "I did it jokingly.When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelledJust as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrelsThe words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the selfIn the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heartAn enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceitWhen he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heartWhoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assemblyWhoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to himA false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin
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