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22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
    but discipline is wasted on fools.

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22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,[a]
    but the instruction[b] of fools is folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:22 Or “master”
  2. Proverbs 16:22 Or “punishment”

12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

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12 May a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring
    and not a fool in his folly.

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

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A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Or “mind”

People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
    and then are angry at the Lord.

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As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin,
    and against Yahweh his heart[a] will rage.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:3 Or “mind”

10 It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury
    or for a slave to rule over princes!

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10 For a fool living in luxury is not fitting,
    any more than it is for a slave to rule over princes.

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11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
    if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

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11 With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise,
    and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.

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Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
    Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.

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Wisdom is too high for fools;
    at the gate he will not open his mouth.

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13 My child,[a] eat honey, for it is good,
    and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
    If you find it, you will have a bright future,
    and your hopes will not be cut short.

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Footnotes

  1. 24:13 Hebrew My son; also in 24:21.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,
    and the dripping of the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 Thus know wisdom for the sake of your soul,[a]
    if you find it, then there is a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:14 Or “life,” or “inner self”

12 There is more hope for fools
    than for people who think they are wise.

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12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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25 Greed causes fighting;
    trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.

26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish,
    but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

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25 The greedy person[a] will stir up strife,
    but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
26 He who trusts in his own heart[b] is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:25 Literally “wide soul”
  2. Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”

11 Fools vent their anger,
    but the wise quietly hold it back.

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11 A fool gives all his breath,[a]
    but the wise holds back in quiet.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Or “spirit”

20 There is more hope for a fool
    than for someone who speaks without thinking.

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20 You see a man who is hasty in his words:
    there is more hope for a fool than him.

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