Proverbs 26:9-21

⁹As a thorn lifted up by the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.

¹¹As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool repeateth his folly.

¹²Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³The slothful man saith, “There is a lion in the way; There is a lion in the streets.”

¹⁴As a door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.

¹⁵The sluggard dippeth his hand into the dish; It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men who can render a reason.

¹⁷As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.

¹⁸As a madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,

¹⁹So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”

²⁰Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; So, where there is no talebearer, contention ceaseth.

²¹As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling strife.