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26:1  As sheleg (snow) in kayitz (summer), and as matar (rain) at katzir (harvest), so kavod is not fitting for a kesil (fool).
26:2  As the tzippor in its fluttering, as the swallow in its flying, so the kelelah (curse) without cause shall not alight.
26:3  A shot (whip) for the sus, a bridle for the chamor, and a shevet for the back of kesilim.
26:4  Answer not a kesil (fool) according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
26:5  Answer a kesil (fool) according to his folly, lest he be chacham in his own eyes.
26:6  He that sendeth a message by the yad of a kesil (fool) cutteth off the raglayim, and drinketh chamas.
26:7  The legs of the pisei’ach (lame man) hang limp; so is a mashal in the peh (mouth) of kesilim.
26:8  As he that bindeth an even (stone) in a sling, so is he that giveth kavod to a kesil (fool).
26:9  As a thornbush goeth up into the yad of a shikkor, so is a mashal in the peh (mouth) of kesilim.
26:10  Like an archer wounding all, so is he that hireth the kesil (fool), or hireth the passerby.
26:11  As a kelev returneth to his vomit, so a kesil (fool) returneth to his folly.
26:12  Seest thou an ish chacham in his own eyes? There is more tikvah (hope) for a kesil (fool) than for him.
26:13  The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) saith, There is a lion in the derech; an ari is in the rechovot.
26:14  As the delet (door) turneth upon its hinges, so doth the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) upon his mittah (bed).
26:15  The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) hideth his yad in his dish; it’s too tiring to bring it back to his peh (mouth) again.
26:16  The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) is chacham in his own eyes, more than seven that give an excellent answer.
26:17  He that passeth by, and meddleth in a quarrel that doth not belong to him, is like one that taketh a kelev by the oznayim.
26:18  As a mad man who shooteth firebrands, khitzim (arrows), and mavet,
26:19  So is the ish that deceiveth his re’a, and saith, Am I not just having a laugh?
26:20  Where no wood is, there the eish goeth out; so where there is no nirgan (gossip, slanderer, talebearer), the strife dieth down.
26:21  As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to eish; so is a contentious ish to kindle strife.
26:22  The devarim of a nirgan (gossip, slanderer, talebearer) are like tasty morsels, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the beten.
26:23  Fervent sfatayim (lips) and a lev rah are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
26:24  He that hateth disguises it with his sfatayim (lips), and within harboreth mirmah (deceit);
26:25  When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are sheva to’avot in his lev.
26:26  Whose hatred is covered by guile, yet his wickedness shall be exposed before the whole kahal.
26:27  He who diggeth a shachat (pit) shall fall therein, and he that rolleth an even (stone), it will roll back upon him.
26:28  A lashon sheker hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering peh (mouth) worketh ruin.