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22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    but the punishment of fools is their folly.

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22 Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life,
    but foolishness brings punishment to 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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12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
    rather than a fool in his folly.

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12 It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs
    than a fool in his stupidity.

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12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.(A)

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A fool has no delight in understanding,
    but only in revealing his own opinion.

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A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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The foolishness of man subverts his way;
    his heart rages against Yahweh.

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A man’s foolishness ruins his life,[a]
    yet his heart rages against the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:3 Lit. way

A person’s own folly(A) leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.(B)

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10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool,
    much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

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10 It’s not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;
    neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

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10 It is not fitting for a fool(A) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.
    When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

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11 When a mocker is punished, the fool gains wisdom;
    but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

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11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(A)

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Wisdom is too high for a fool.
    He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

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Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool;
    he has nothing to say in court.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:7 Lit. in the gate

Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

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13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
    the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul.
    If you have found it, then there will be a reward:
    Your hope will not be cut off.

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13 My son, eat honey, because it’s good for you;[a]
    indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are sweet to your taste;
14 Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul;
    if you find it, there will be a future for you,
        and what you hope for won’t be cut short.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:13 The Heb. lacks for you

Saying 26

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(A)

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12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?
    There’s more hope for a fool than for him.

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12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(A)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(B)

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