¹³ A lazy person says, “There’s a ferocious lion in the street.
There’s a lion in the public square!”
¹⁴ A door turns on its hinges,
and a lazy person turns on his bed.
¹⁵ A lazy person buries his hand in a dish,
but he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
¹⁶ A lazy person considers himself wiser
than seven people who answer sensibly.

¹⁷ A passerby who meddles in a quarrel that is not his
is like a person who grabs a dog by the ears.
¹⁸ A person who deceives his neighbor and then says, “I was only joking,”
¹⁹ is like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows. ^[1]

²⁰ When there is no more wood, a fire goes out,
and without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
²¹ As charcoal is to hot embers and as wood is to fire,
so a quarrelsome person is to igniting a fight.

²² Words of a gossip are like food that is easy to swallow.
They go down to the depths of one’s heart. ^[2]
23 Fervent ^[3] lips and an evil heart
are like a glaze ^[4] covering a clay pot.
²⁴ With his lips a person hides his hatred,
but he hides deceit inside.
²⁵ When his voice sounds gracious, do not believe him,
because seven abominations are in his heart.
²⁶ His hatred covers itself with deceit,
but his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

²⁷ The person who digs a pit will fall into it.
The person who rolls away a stone—it will roll back over him.
²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a smooth mouth causes ruin.

Proverbs 27

¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,
because you do not know what a day may produce.
² Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
a stranger, not your own lips.
³ A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,
but aggravation from a stubborn fool is heavier than both.
⁴ Cruel wrath and a flood of anger are devastating,
but who can stand up against jealousy?
⁵ Open correction is better than concealed love.
⁶ Wounds from someone who loves you can be trusted,
but the kisses of someone who hates you are too much. ^[5]
7 A satisfied appetite refuses honey,
but to a hungry appetite, everything bitter tastes sweet.
⁸ A person who wanders from his place
    is like a bird that wanders from its nest.
⁹ Olive oil and incense bring joy to a heart,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere advice. ^[6]
10 Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend,
and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you.
A neighbor who is near is better than a brother who is far away.
¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart,
so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.
¹² A sensible person sees trouble and hides,
but naïve people keep going and pay the penalty.
¹³ Take the garment of someone who guarantees a loan for a stranger.
Keep it when someone pledges it on behalf of an immoral woman.
¹⁴ When someone blesses his neighbor in a loud voice early in the morning,
    it will be regarded as a curse.
¹⁵ Constantly dripping water on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike.
¹⁶ Trying to hold her back is like holding back the wind,
like grasping oil with your right hand. ^[7]
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and a man sharpens the insight of his friend.
¹⁸ A person who tends a fig tree eats its fruit,
and a person who takes care of his master will be honored.
¹⁹ As water reflects a person’s face,
so a person’s heart reflects the person.
²⁰ Death and Destruction ^[8] are never satisfied,
and a person’s eyes are never satisfied.
²¹ A crucible is for refining silver and a smelter is for gold,
and a person is tested by his praise. ^[9]
22 Even if you grind a stubborn fool
    like grain with a mortar and pestle,
his stupidity will not leave him.

²³ Be certain that you know the condition of your flock very well.
Pay attention to your herds,
²⁴ because wealth is not forever,
nor does a crown pass from generation to generation.
²⁵ The hay is removed and new growth appears,
and grass from the mountains is gathered in.
²⁶ Lambs provide wool for your clothing,
and the price of the field can be earned from the goats.
²⁷ What’s more, there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
for your household’s food,
and to maintain the life of your servant girls.