Sitting with Sadness

¹¹ Words spoken at the right time are like gold apples in a silver setting. ¹² Wise correction to an ear that listens is like a gold earring or jewelry of fine gold. ¹³ Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day are reliable messengers to those who send them; they restore the life of their master. ¹⁴ People who brag about a gift never given are like clouds and wind that produce no rain. ¹⁵ A commander can be persuaded with patience, and a tender tongue can break a bone. ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just the right amount; otherwise, you’ll get full and vomit it up. ¹⁷ Don’t spend too much time in your neighbor’s house. Otherwise, they’ll get fed up with you and hate you. ¹⁸ People who testify falsely against their neighbors are like a club, sword, and sharpened arrow. ¹⁹ Trusting a treacherous person at a difficult time is like having a bad tooth or a wobbly foot. ²⁰ Singing a song to a troubled heart is like taking off a garment on a cold day or putting vinegar on a wound.