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28 We think even foolish people are wise if they keep silent.
    We think they understand what is right if they control their tongues.

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28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(A)

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Foolish people don’t want to understand.
    They take delight in saying only what they think.

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

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What foolish people say leads to arguing.
    They are just asking for a beating.

The words of foolish people drag them down.
    They are trapped by what they say.

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

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19 It is better to be poor and to live without blame
    than to be foolish and to twist words around.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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10 It isn’t proper for a foolish person to live in great comfort.
    And it is much worse when a slave rules 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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29 Those who make fun of others will be judged.
    Foolish people will be punished.

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29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)

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Avoiding a fight brings honor to a person.
    But every foolish person is quick to argue.

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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Saying 10

Don’t speak to foolish people.
    They will laugh at your wise words.

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Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(A)

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Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for foolish people.
    They shouldn’t speak when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.

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Saying 23

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

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26 It isn’t proper to honor a foolish person.
    That’s like having snow in summer or rain at harvest time.

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26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)

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A whip is for a horse, and a harness is for a donkey.
    And a beating is for the backs of foolish people.

Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts.
    If you do, you yourself will be just like them.

Answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts.
    If you do not, they will be wise in their own eyes.

Sending a message in the hand of a foolish person
    is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.

A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person
    is like disabled legs that are useless.

Giving honor to a foolish person
    is like tying a stone in a slingshot.

A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person
    is like a thorn in the hand of someone who is drunk.

10 Anyone who hires a foolish person or someone who is passing by
    is like a person who shoots arrows at just anybody.

11 Foolish people who do the same foolish things again
    are like a dog that returns to where it has thrown up.

12 Do you see a person who is wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.

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A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(A)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(B)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(C)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(D)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(E)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(G)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(I)
    so fools repeat their folly.(J)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(K)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(L)

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Stones are heavy, and sand weighs a lot.
    But letting a foolish person make you angry is a heavier load than both of them.

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Stone is heavy and sand(A) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

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26 Those who trust in themselves are foolish.
    But those who live wisely are kept safe.

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26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(A)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(B)

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