Similitudes, Instructions

¹Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool. [Is 32:6]

²Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,

So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving]. [Num 23:8]

³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].

⁴Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,

Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.

⁵Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly,

Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him]. [Matt 16:1-4; 21:24-27]

⁶He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence]. [Prov 13:17]

⁷Like the legs which are useless to the lame,

So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].

⁸Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw],

So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.

⁹Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,

So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].

¹⁰Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone,

So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.

¹¹Like a dog that returns to his vomit

Is a fool who repeats his foolishness.

¹²Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?

There is more hope for a fool than for him. [Prov 29:20; Luke 18:11; Rom 12:16; Rev 3:17]

¹³The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!” [Prov 22:13]

¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges,

So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].

¹⁵The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity];

It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. [Prov 19:24]

¹⁶The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.

¹⁷Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten]

Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business.

¹⁸Like a madman who throws

Firebrands, arrows, and death,

¹⁹So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)

And then says, “Was I not joking?” [Eph 5:4]

²⁰For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.

²¹Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife. [Prov 15:18; 29:22]

²²The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];

They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon]. [Prov 18:8]

²³Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value]

Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.

²⁴He who hates, disguises it with his lips,

But he stores up deceit in his heart.

²⁵When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,

For seven abominations are in his heart.

²⁶Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit,

His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.

²⁷Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. [Ps 7:15, 16; 9:15; 10:2; 57:6; Prov 28:10; Eccl 10:8]

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.