² Foolish people don’t want to understand.
    They take delight in saying only what they think.

¹³ To answer before listening
    is foolish and shameful.

³ A person’s own foolish acts destroy their life.
    But their heart is angry with the Lord.

³ Avoiding a fight brings honor to a person.
    But every foolish person is quick to argue.

²⁰ Wise people store up the best food and olive oil.
    But foolish people eat up everything they have.

¹⁵ Children are going to do foolish things.
    But correcting them will drive that foolishness far away.

26 It isn’t proper to honor a foolish person.
    That’s like having snow in summer or rain at harvest time.

² A curse given for no reason is like a wandering bird or a flying sparrow.
    It doesn’t go anywhere.

³ A whip is for a horse, and a harness is for a donkey.
    And a beating is for the backs of foolish people.

⁴ Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts.
    If you do, you yourself will be just like them.

⁵ Answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts.
    If you do not, they will be wise in their own eyes.

⁶ Sending a message in the hand of a foolish person
    is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.

⁷ A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person
    is like disabled legs that are useless.

⁸ Giving honor to a foolish person
    is like tying a stone in a slingshot.

⁹ A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person
    is like a thorn in the hand of someone who is drunk.

¹⁰ Anyone who hires a foolish person or someone who is passing by
    is like a person who shoots arrows at just anybody.

¹¹ Foolish people who do the same foolish things again
    are like a dog that returns to where it has thrown up.

¹² Do you see a person who is wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.

²⁶ Those who trust in themselves are foolish.
    But those who live wisely are kept safe.

¹¹ Foolish people let their anger run wild.
    But wise people keep themselves under control.

³² “Do you do foolish things?
    Do you think you are better than others?
Do you plan evil?
    If you do, put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!