² A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

²³ A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

¹⁶ Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

¹⁶ Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

³ Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

¹⁵ Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

¹⁶ But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

¹⁷ These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: