14 Gifts from senseless peoplewon’t profit you,because they look for a lotrather than a little in return.
15 They will give a little and reproach a lot,and they will open their mouthslike a town crier.Today they will lendand tomorrow ask for it back;such people are hateful.
16 Fools say, "I don’t have a friend,and there’s no gratitudefor my good deeds."Those who eat the bread of such peoplehave mean tongues.
17 How many will ridicule them,and how often?
18 A slip on the pavement is preferableto a slip of the tongue;so the downfall of evil peoplewill come quickly.
19 A disagreeable person, an untimely story—it will always bein the mouth of the uneducated.
20 Proverbs told by fools will be rejected,because they’ll never tell themat their proper time.