2As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her flight, so the curse does not come without a cause.
3A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.
4Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.
5Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
6He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.
7The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.
8Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.
9Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.
10Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink.
11Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.
12Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.
13The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.