xix

It is not good to eat much honey:

So for men to search out their own glory is not glory.

XX

He whose spirit is without restraint

Is like a city that is broken down and hath no wall.

As the sparrow in her wandering,
As the swallow in her flying,

So the curse that is causeless lighteth not.

xxiii

Fools

A Proverb Cluster

A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the ass,

And a rod for the back of Fools.

Answer not a Fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a Fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a Fool
Cutteth off his own feet,

And drinketh in damage.

The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of Fools.

As a bag of gems

In a heap of stones,

So is he that giveth honour to a Fool.

As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a parable in the mouth of Fools.

As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth the Fool,

And he that hireth them that pass by.

As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a Fool that repeateth his folly.

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

xxiv

The Sluggard

A Proverb Cluster

The Sluggard saith,

There is a lion in the way;

A lion is in the streets.

As the door turneth upon its hinges,
So doth the Sluggard upon his bed.

The Sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;
It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

The Sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
Than seven men that can render a reason.

XXV

Social Pests

A Proverb Cluster

He that passeth by

And vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death: So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,

And saith, Am not I in sport?

For lack of wood the fire goeth out,

And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

As coals are to hot embers,

And wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Fervent lips and a wicked heart

Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,
But he layeth up deceit within him:
When he speaketh fair, believe him not;

For there are seven abominations in his heart:
Though his hatred cover itself with guile,

His wickedness shall be openly shewed before the con-
gregation.

xxvi

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein :

And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.

xxvii

A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded;
And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

xxviii

Boast not thyself of tomorrow;

For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

xxix

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.

A stone is heavy,

XXX

And the sand weighty:

But a fool's vexation is heavier than them both.