³ People’s own foolishness ·ruins their lives [^Lfrustrates their path],
but in their ·minds [^Lhearts] they ·blame [rage at] the Lord.

³ Foolish people are always fighting,
but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].

²⁰ Wise people’s houses are full of ·the best foods [or precious treasure] and olive oil,
but fools ·waste [consume; ^Lswallow] everything they have.

¹⁵ ·Every child is full of foolishness [^LStupidity/Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child],
but ·punishment can get rid of it [^Lthe rod of discipline drives it far from them].

26 It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.
Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.

² Curses ·will not harm someone who is innocent [that are undeserved never stick];
they are like ·darting [flitting] birds or flying swallows.

³ Whips are for horses, and ·harnesses [bridles] are for donkeys,
·so paddles are good for fools [^Land rods for the backs of fools].

⁴ Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.

⁵ Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will ·think they are really wise [^Lbe wise in their own eyes; ^Ca wise person must read the situation to know whether to answer or not].

⁶ Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking ·poison [^Lviolence].

⁷ A ·wise saying spoken by [^Lproverb in the mouth of] a fool
·is as useless as [^Ldangles like] the legs of a crippled person.

⁸ Giving honor to a foolish person
is like ·tying a stone [^La bag of stones] in a slingshot.

⁹ A ·wise saying spoken by [^Lproverb in the mouth of] a fool
is like a ·thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk [^Lthornbush in the hand of a fool].

¹⁰ Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing by
is like an archer shooting ·at just anything [randomly].

¹¹ A fool who repeats his ·foolishness [foolish mistakes]
is like a dog that goes back to ·what it has thrown up [its vomit; 2 Pet. 2:22].

¹² There is more hope for a foolish person
than for those who ·think they are wise [^Lare wise in their own eyes].