19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(A)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(B)

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19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

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Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(A)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(B)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

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Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

The prudent understand where they are going,
    but fools deceive themselves.

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

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16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(C) does foolish things,(D)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(E)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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16 The wise are cautious[a] and avoid danger;
    fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

17 Short-tempered people do foolish things,
    and schemers are hated.

18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,[b]
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Hebrew The wise fear.
  2. 14:18 Or inherit foolishness.

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

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29 People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

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A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(A)

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Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

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14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
    while the fool feeds on trash.

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10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes 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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16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(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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24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

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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.

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

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

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Fools have no interest in understanding;
    they only want to air their own opinions.

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13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.(A)

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13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
    is both shameful and foolish.

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