Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

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Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;
    even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

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Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)

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

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10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
    than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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

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12 Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs(A)
than a fool in his foolishness.

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12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

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

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16 It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,
    since he has no heart for learning.

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

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

25 A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him.(B)

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24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25 Foolish children[a] bring grief to their father
    and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:25 Hebrew A foolish son.

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

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(B)

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28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,
discerning when he seals his lips.(A)

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28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

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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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