10
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
11
Like 1a dog that returns to his vomit is 2a fool who repeats his folly.
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Do you see a man who is 3wise in his own eyes? 4There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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5The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"
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As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
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6The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
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The sluggard is 7wiser in his own eyes 8than seven men who can answer sensibly.
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Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
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Like a madman who throws 9firebrands, arrows, and death
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is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
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For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no 10whisperer, 11quarreling ceases.
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As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is 12a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
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13The words of 14a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
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15Like the 16glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
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Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
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17when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are 18seven abominations in his heart;
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though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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19Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
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A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.