1. It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.
2. Curses will not harm someone who is innocent.They are like sparrows or swallows that fly around and never land.
3. A whip is used to guide a horse, and a harness is used for a donkey.In the same way, a paddle is used on a foolish person to guide him.
4. Don’t give a foolish person a foolish answer.If you do, you will be just like him.
5. But answer a foolish person as he should be answered.If you don’t, he will think he is really wise.
6. Don’t send a message by a foolish person.That would be like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.
7. A wise saying spoken by a fool does no good.It is like the legs of a crippled person.
8. Giving honor to a foolish person does no good.It is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
18-19. A person shouldn’t trick his neighborand then say, “I was just joking!”That is like a madman shootingdeadly, burning arrows.