When a man's folly (A)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart (B)rages against the Lord.

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The (A)foolishness of a person ruins his way,
And his heart (B)rages against the Lord.

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It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

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(A)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [a]quarrel.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out

20 (A)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man (B)devours it.

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20 There is precious (A)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person (B)swallows it up.

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15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but (A)the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

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15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The (A)rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

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26 Like snow in summer or (A)rain in harvest,
    so (B)honor is (C)not fitting for a fool.
Like (D)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    (E)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
(F)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and (G)a rod for the back of fools.
(H)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
(I)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be (J)wise in his own eyes.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and (K)drinks violence.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is (L)one who gives honor to a fool.
Like (M)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (N)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is (O)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (P)wise in his own eyes?
    (Q)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby

Similitudes and Instructions

26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not come to rest.
A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
(G)Do not answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
(H)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like [c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that [e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (K)repeats [g]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
  2. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
  3. Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
  4. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  5. Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
  6. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  7. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his

26 Whoever (A)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

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26 One who (A)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.

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11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back.

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11 A (A)fool [a]always loses his temper,
But a (B)wise person holds it back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
    or if you have been devising evil,
    (A)put your hand on your mouth.

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32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, (A)put your hand on your mouth.

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