Proverbs 26:12-28

New International Version

¹³ A sluggard says,^(C) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”^(D)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.^(E)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.^(F)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

¹⁷ Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

¹⁸ Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
¹⁹ is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.^(G)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^(H)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.^(I)

²³ Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent^[a] lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,^(J)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.^(K)
25 Though their speech is charming,^(L) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.^(M)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
²⁷ Whoever digs a pit^(N) will fall into it;^(O)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.^(P)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth^(Q) works ruin.