Every Word a Firebrand

^[1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. ^[2] Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. ^[3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! ^[4] Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. ^[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. ^[6] Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. ^[7] Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. ^[8] Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. ^[9] Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. ^[10] Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. ^[11] As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. ^[12] Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. ^[13] A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” ^[14] As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. ^[15] A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. ^[16] A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. ^[17] Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. ^[18] Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death ^[19] is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” ^[20] Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. ^[21] As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. ^[22] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. ^[23] Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. ^[24] Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. ^[25] Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. ^[26] Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. ^[27] Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. ^[28] A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.