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The foolishness of man subverteth his way;
And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

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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”

It is an honor for a man to [a]keep aloof from strife;
But every fool will be quarrelling.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Or, cease

It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
    but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

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20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
But a foolish man swalloweth it up.

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20 Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,
    but the foolish person[a] will devour them.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:20 Or “foolish of mankind”
  2. Proverbs 21:20 Literally “it”

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

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15 Folly is bound up in the heart[a] of a boy;[b]
    the rod of discipline will drive it[c] from him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:15 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 22:15 Or “young man,” or “adolescent”
  3. Proverbs 22:15 That is, folly

26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honor is not seemly for a fool.
As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless [a]alighteth not.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in [b]his own conceit.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
The legs of the lame hang loose;
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 [c]As an archer that woundeth all,
So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in [d]his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:2 Hebrew cometh not.
  2. Proverbs 26:5 Hebrew his own eyes.
  3. Proverbs 26:10 Or, A master worker formeth all things; But he that hireth the fool is as one that hireth them that pass by. The Hebrew is obscure.
  4. Proverbs 26:12 Hebrew his own eyes.

26 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying,
    so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly
    lest you become like him—even you.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
    so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like binding a stone in a sling,
    so is giving honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
    so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
11 Like a dog returning to his vomit
    is a fool reverting to his folly.
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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26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;
But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

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26 He who trusts in his own heart[a] is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”

11 A fool uttereth all his [a]anger;
But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Hebrew spirit.

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”

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself,
Or if thou hast thought evil,
Lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

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32 If you have been foolish by exalting yourself,
    and if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth.

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