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They are nameless fools,
    outcasts from society.

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A base and nameless brood,(A)
    they were driven out of the land.(B)

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24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”

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24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

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18 No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods!

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18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.(A) They pour out drink offerings(B) to other gods to arouse(C) my anger.

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For fools speak foolishness
    and make evil plans.
They practice ungodliness
    and spread false teachings about the Lord.
They deprive the hungry of food
    and give no water to the thirsty.

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For fools speak folly,(A)
    their hearts are bent on evil:(B)
They practice ungodliness(C)
    and spread error(D) concerning the Lord;
the hungry they leave empty(E)
    and from the thirsty they withhold water.

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22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
    but discipline is wasted on fools.

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22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(A)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

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22 “How long, you simpletons,
    will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
    How long will you fools hate knowledge?

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22 “How long will you who are simple(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(B) knowledge?

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Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

10 Those who are wise must finally die,
    just like the foolish and senseless,
    leaving all their wealth behind.
11 The grave[a] is their eternal home,
    where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
12     but their fame will not last.
    They will die, just like animals.
13 This is the fate of fools,
    though they are remembered as being wise.[b] Interlude

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Footnotes

  1. 49:11 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads Their inward [thought].
  2. 49:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

10 For all can see that the wise die,(A)
    that the foolish and the senseless(B) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(C) to others.(D)
11 Their tombs(E) will remain their houses[a] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(F)
    though they had[b] named(G) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(H)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(I)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(J)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  2. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  3. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.

Those who despise flagrant sinners,
    and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
    and keep their promises even when it hurts.

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who despises a vile person
    but honors(A) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath(B) even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;

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“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
    I will cover my mouth with my hand.

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“I am unworthy(A)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(B)

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Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.

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He too followed(A) the ways of the house of Ahab,(B) for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly.

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27 Ahaziah followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done, for he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab.

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27 He followed the ways of the house of Ahab(A) and did evil(B) in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.

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18 But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.

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18 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter(A) of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

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