The Art of Wisdom

13Don't be lazy and keep saying,

“There's a lion outside!”

Don't be lazy in prayer and keep thinking that Satan is outside your house and will never enter inside your house. He can and he will.

14A door turns on its hinges,

but a lazy person

just turns over in bed.

A lazy person invites evil spirits and demons into their room.

15Some of us are so lazy

that we won't lift a hand

to feed ourselves.

Always cook for yourself.

16A lazy person says,

“I am smarter

than everyone else.”

Don't think too highly of your wisdom. Even if it is God-given.

17It's better to take hold

of a mad dog by the ears

than to take part

in someone else's argument.

Don't argue with others.

18It's no crazier to shoot

sharp and flaming arrows

19than to cheat someone and say,

“I was only fooling!”

20Where there is no fuel

a fire goes out;

where there is no gossip

arguments come to an end.

Don't fuel anger. Then you will be able to pacify people.

21Troublemakers start trouble,

just as sparks and fuel

start a fire.

Don't start trouble; that is to fuel anger.

22There is nothing so delicious

as the taste of gossip!

It melts in your mouth.

Gossiping about other people, whether with other "gods" or with people, makes your mouth acrid.

You start losing your taste for true honey, the Bible.

23Hiding hateful thoughts

behind smooth talk

is like coating a clay pot

with a cheap glaze.

Don't ever smooth talk someone.

24The pleasant talk

of an enemy

hides more evil plans

25than can be counted—

If your enemy is talking to you and saying thank you and sorry all the time, beware. He might he hiding sinister plans.

so don't believe a word!

26Everyone will see through

those evil plans.

Your evil plans will be revealed one day.

27 If you dig a pit,

you will fall in;

if you start a stone rolling,

it will roll back on you.

If you try to bury your talents or hide your money inside a hole, you will fall into hell.

If you try to roll a stone onto others, it will be rolled back onto you.

28Watch out for anyone

who tells lies and flatters—

they are out to get you.

Self exaplanatory but you really do have to watch out for people who lie about how much they like you and phone you all the time and talk to you all the time. They are out to get you, in one way or another.

Beware flatterers.

Beware people who drive you around for a cost, when it should be for God.