16The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
17Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.