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The foolishness of man subverts his way;
    his heart rages against Yahweh.

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A man’s foolishness ruins his life,[a]
    yet his heart rages against the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:3 Lit. way

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

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Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
    but every fool is quarrelsome.

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

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20 Precious treasures and oil are found[a] where the wise live,
    but a foolish man devours them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:20 So MT; LXX reads A desirable treasure will rest

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child:
    the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

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15 A child’s heart has a tendency to do wrong,
    but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.

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26 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like a fluttering sparrow,
    like a darting swallow,
    so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
A whip is for the horse,
    a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools!
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest you also be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
    is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,
    so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As one who binds a stone in a sling,
    so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
    so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 As an archer who wounds all,
    so is he who hires a fool
    or he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit,
    so is a fool who repeats 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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On Fools

26 Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time,
so honor is inappropriate for a fool.

Like a fluttering sparrow
    or a swallow in flight,
        a curse without cause will not alight.

A whip is for the horses,
    a bridle is for the donkey,
        a rod is for the back of fools.
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness,
    or you will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness,
    or he will think himself to be wise.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own[a] feet and drinks violence.
Useless legs to the lame—
    that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
Tying a stone to a sling—
    that’s what giving honor to a fool is.
A thorn in the hand of a drunkard—
    that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
10 An archer who shoots at anyone—
    is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.
11 A dog that returns to its vomit
    is like a fool who reverts to his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?
    There’s more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:6 The Heb. lacks his own

26 One who trusts in himself is a fool;
    but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

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26 Whoever trusts in himself is foolish,
    but whoever lives wisely will be kept safe.

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11 A fool vents all of his anger,
    but a wise man brings himself under control.

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11 The fool vents all his feelings,[a]
    but the wise person keeps them to himself.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
  2. Proverbs 29:11 The Heb. lacks to himself

32 “If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself,
    or if you have thought evil,
put your hand over your mouth.

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32 If you’ve foolishly exalted yourself
    or if you’ve plotted evil,
        put your hand over your mouth.

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