Proverbs 26:13-22

New King James Version

¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the ^[a]streets!”
¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
¹⁵ The ^(A)lazy man buries his hand in the ^[b]bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
¹⁶ The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

¹⁷ He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, ^(B)“I was only joking!”

²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no ^[c]talebearer, strife ceases.
^21 (C)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
²² The words of a ^[d]talebearer are like ^[e]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the ^[f]inmost body.