19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil(A)
is an abomination to fools.

20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

Read full chapter

19 A desire fulfilled is pleasant,
    but fools find deviating from evil disgusting.
20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.

Read full chapter

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(A)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(B)

Read full chapter

Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

Fools mock at making restitution,[a]
but there is goodwill among the upright.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Or at guilt offerings

Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t learn wise speech there.
By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,
    but the stupidity of fools deceives them.
Fools mock a compensation offering,
    but favor is with those who do right.

Read full chapter

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(A)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(B)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

Read full chapter

16 A wise man is cautious and turns from evil,(A)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[a]

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
and a man who schemes is hated.(B)

18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or and falls

16 The wise are careful and avoid evil,
    but fools become excited and overconfident.
17 Short-tempered people make stupid mistakes,
    and schemers are hated.
18 Stupidity is the lot of the naive,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Read full chapter

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(C) does foolish things,(D)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(E)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Read full chapter

29 A patient person shows great understanding,(A)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

Read full chapter

29 Patience leads to abundant understanding,
    but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.

Read full chapter

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

Read full chapter

A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.(A)

Read full chapter

A fool doesn’t like a father’s instruction,
    but those who heed correction are mature.

Read full chapter

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(A)

Read full chapter

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,(A)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.(B)

Read full chapter

14 An understanding heart seeks knowledge;
    but fools feed on folly.

Read full chapter

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Read full chapter

10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person
more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

Read full chapter

10 A rebuke goes deeper to an understanding person
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.

Read full chapter

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Read full chapter

16 Why does a fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom?(A)

Read full chapter

16 Why should a fool have money
    to pay for wisdom? He has no mind.

Read full chapter

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(A)

Read full chapter

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(A) roam to the ends of the earth.

Read full chapter

24 Wisdom is right in front of those with understanding,
    but the eyes of fools are off to the edges of the earth.

Read full chapter

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

Read full chapter