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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing personal opinion.(A)

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23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[a] broadcasts folly.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.(A)

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Book I

(Psalms 1–41)

Psalm 1

The Two Ways

Happy are those
    who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
    or sit in the seat of scoffers,(A)
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law they meditate day and night.(B)

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16 Why should fools have a price in hand
    to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?

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16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.(A)

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Food Offered to Idols

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.(A)

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15 They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor,[a] who loved the wages of doing wrong(A) 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the deepest darkness has been reserved.(B) 18 For they speak bombastic nonsense, and with debased[b] desires of the flesh they entice people who have just[c] escaped from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for people are slaves to whatever masters them.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.15 Other ancient authorities read Beor
  2. 2.18 Or debauched
  3. 2.18 Other ancient authorities read actually

15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry but others from goodwill.

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12 So with yourselves: since you are striving after spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them for building up the church.

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34 Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their region.

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Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense
    and show to everyone that they are fools.(A)

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Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

15 So he uttered his oracle, saying,

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
    the oracle of the man whose eye is clear,[a]
16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God
    and knows the knowledge of the Most High,[b]
who sees the vision of the Almighty,[c]
    who falls down but with eyes uncovered:

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Footnotes

  1. 24.15 Or closed or open
  2. 24.16 Or of Elyon
  3. 24.16 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?(A)

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