16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyesthan seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s earsis one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out.Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 As coals are to hot embers,and wood to fire,so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,they go down into the innermost parts.