Add parallel Print Page Options

19 A desire realized 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 suffers harm.(A)

Read full chapter

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

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 find words of knowledge.
It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
    but the folly of fools misleads.(A)
Fools mock at the guilt offering,[a]
    but the upright enjoy God’s favor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 14.9 Meaning of Heb uncertain

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

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Or at guilt offerings

16 The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
    but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.(A)
17 One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
    and the schemer is hated.(B)
18 The simple are adorned with[a] folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 14.18 Or inherit

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

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or and falls

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

14 The mind of one 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 strikes deeper into a discerning person
    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 fools have a price in hand
    to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(A)

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 fools who keep silent are considered wise;
    when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(A)

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 in expressing personal opinion.(A)

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. Proverbs 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

13 If one gives answer before hearing,
    it is folly and shame.(A)

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter