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In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.

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What a fool says brings[a] a rod to his back,
    but the words of the wise protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit. The mouth of the fool

Leave the presence of a foolish man,[a]
    for you will not come to know words of knowledge.[b]
The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.
Fools mock[c] the guilt offering,
    but among the upright, it is favorable.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “from the presence belonging to a man of foolishness”
  2. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “lips of knowledge”
  3. Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew “he mocks”

Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you will not find competent advice.

The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
    but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but among the upright there are good intentions.

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15 The simple will believe every word,
    but the clever will consider his step.
16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil,
    but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.
17 He who is short of temper[a] will act foolishly,
    and the man who schemes will be hated.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:17 Literally “nostril”

15 An unthinking person believes everything,
    but the prudent one thinks before acting.[a]
16 The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.
17 A quick tempered person does foolish things,
    and a devious man is hated.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:15 Lit. one considers his steps