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

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

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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It is honorable to refrain from strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.(A)

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20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

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20 Precious treasure remains[a] in the house of the wise,
    but the fool devours it.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 21.20 Gk: Heb and oil

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(A)

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

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26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)

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26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.(A)
Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(B)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools.(C)
Do not answer fools according to their folly,
    lest you be a fool yourself.(D)
Answer fools according to their folly,
    lest they be wise in their own eyes.(E)
It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,
    to send a message by a fool.
The legs of a lame person hang limp;
    so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
It is like binding a stone in a sling
    to give honor to a fool.(G)
Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
    is a fool who reverts to his folly.(I)
12 Do you see people wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for fools than for them.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 26.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(A)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(B)

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26 Those who trust in their own wits are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.

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11 Fools give full vent to their rage,(A)
    but the wise bring calm in the end.(B)

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

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32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
    or if you plan evil,
    clap your hand over your mouth!(A)

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

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