7 hThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
22 “How long, O asimple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will bscoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools chate knowledge?
32 For the simple are killed by qtheir turning away,
and rthe complacency of fools destroys them;
5 O rsimple ones, learn sprudence;
O tfools, learn sense.
The Way of Folly
she is seductive1 and vknows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on wthe highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are xgoing straight on their way,
16 y“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 z“Stolen water is sweet,
and abread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know bthat the dead2 are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
8 qThe wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
23 Doing wrong is jlike a joke to a fool,
but kwisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
29 Whoever utroubles his own household will vinherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
15 yThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16 zThe vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
23 kA prudent man conceals knowledge,
kbut the heart of fools proclaims folly.
16 qEvery prudent man acts with knowledge,
rbut a fool flaunts his folly.
19 wA desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 qFools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.1
16 aOne who is wise is cautious1 and bturns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of cquick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
29 Whoever is sslow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
5 kA fool ldespises his father’s instruction,
but mwhoever heeds reproof is prudent.
14 zThe heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
16 Why should a fool have money in his hand jto buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
24 sThe discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
28 Even a fool xwho keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only zin expressing his opinion.
13 If one gives an answer obefore he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
3 When a man’s folly dbrings his way to ruin,
his heart erages against the Lord.
3 It is an honor for a man to dkeep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
20 xPrecious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man ydevours it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but nthe rod of discipline drives it far from him.
1 Like snow in summer or urain in harvest,
so vhonor is wnot fitting for a fool.
2 Like xa sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
ya curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 zA whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and aa rod for the back of fools.
4 bAnswer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 cAnswer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be dwise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and edrinks violence.
7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is fone who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like ga thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.1
11 Like ha dog that returns to his vomit
is ia fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is jwise in his own eyes?
kThere is more hope for a fool than for him.
26 Whoever utrusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
eput your hand on your mouth.
