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1Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be 2wise in his own eyes.
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Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and 3drinks 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 4one who gives honor to a fool.
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Like 5a 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 6a dog that returns to his vomit is 7a fool who repeats his folly.
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Do you see a man who is 8wise in his own eyes? 9There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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10The 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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11The 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 12wiser in his own eyes 13than 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 14firebrands, 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 15whisperer, 16quarreling ceases.
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As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is 17a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
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18The words of 19a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
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20Like the 21glaze 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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22when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are 23seven 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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24Whoever 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.