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1A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and 2a rod for the back of fools.
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3Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
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4Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be 5wise in his own eyes.
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Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and 6drinks violence.
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Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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Like one who binds the stone in the sling is 7one who gives honor to a fool.
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Like 8a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
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Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
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Like 9a dog that returns to his vomit is 10a fool who repeats his folly.
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Do you see a man who is 11wise in his own eyes? 12There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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13The 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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14The 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 15wiser in his own eyes 16than 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 17firebrands, 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 18whisperer, 19quarreling ceases.
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As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is 20a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
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21The words of 22a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
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23Like the 24glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.