³ The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.

^3 (A)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

^20 (A)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.

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

² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So ^(B)a curse without cause shall not alight.

^3 (C)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
^5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
⁷ Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
^10 [a]The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
^11 (E)As a dog returns to his own vomit,
^(F)So a fool repeats his folly.
^12 (G)Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.