15. A lazy person puts his fork in his food.He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16. A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.
17. ⌊Like⌋ grabbing a dog by the ears,⌊so⌋ is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel.
18. Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19. so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20. Without wood a fire goes out,and without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21. ⌊As⌋ charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22. The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,and they go down into a person’s innermost being.
23. ⌊Like⌋ a clay pot covered with cheap silver,⌊so⌋ is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.