19 (A)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Read full chapter

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

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

Read full chapter

Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
(A)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance

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

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 14:9 Or at guilt offerings

16 (A)One who is wise is cautious[a] and (B)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of (C)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or fears [the Lord]

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

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Or and falls

29 Whoever is (A)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

(A)A fool (B)despises his father's instruction,
    but (C)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

14 (A)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand (A)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

24 (A)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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

28 Even a fool (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (A)in expressing his opinion.

Read full chapter

A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

13 If one gives an answer (A)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.

Read full chapter

13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.(A)

Read full chapter