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22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    but folly is the punishment of fools.(A)

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22 Insight is a fountain of life(A) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

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12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
    than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(A)

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12 Better for a person to meet a bear robbed of her cubs(A)
than a fool in his foolishness.

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

One’s own folly leads to ruin,
    yet the heart rages against the Lord.(A)

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A person’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.(A)

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10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for a slave to rule over princes.(A)

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10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool(A)
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser;
    when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.(A)

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11 When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.(A)

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Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the gate they do not open their mouths.(A)

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Wisdom is inaccessible to[a] a fool;(A)
he does not open his mouth at the city gate.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 24:7 Lit is too high for

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,
    and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.(A)
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
    if you find it, you will find a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(B)

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13 Eat honey,(A) my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;(B)
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you.(C)
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade.(D)

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12 Do you see people wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for fools than for them.(A)

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12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?(A)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.(B)

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25 The greedy person stirs up strife,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched.(A)
26 Those who trust in their own wits are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.

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25 A greedy person stirs up conflict,(A)
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.(B)

26 The one who trusts in himself[a] is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 28:26 Lit his heart

11 A fool gives full vent to anger,
    but the wise quietly holds it back.(A)

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11 A fool gives full vent to his anger,[a](A)
but a wise person holds it in check.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:11 Lit spirit

20 Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?
    There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.(A)

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20 Do you see someone who speaks too soon?(A)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.(B)

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