Add parallel Print Page Options

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Read full chapter

The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;(A)
fools despise wisdom and discipline.(B)

Read full chapter

22 “How long, you simpletons,
    will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
    How long will you fools hate knowledge?

Read full chapter

22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(A) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(B)

Read full chapter

32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
    Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

Read full chapter

32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,(A)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Read full chapter

You simple people, use good judgment.
    You foolish people, show some understanding.

Read full chapter

Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.

Read full chapter

Folly Calls for a Hearing

13 The woman named Folly is brash.
    She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
14 She sits in her doorway
    on the heights overlooking the city.
15 She calls out to men going by
    who are minding their own business.
16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
    To those who lack good judgment, she says,
17 “Stolen water is refreshing;
    food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there.
    Her guests are in the depths of the grave.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9:18 Hebrew in Sheol.

13 Folly is a rowdy woman;(A)
she is gullible and knows nothing.(B)
14 She sits by the doorway of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who go straight ahead on their paths:(C)
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten secretly is tasty!” (D)
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,(E)
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(F)

Read full chapter

The wise are glad to be instructed,
    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

Read full chapter

A wise heart accepts commands,(A)
but foolish lips will be destroyed.

Read full chapter

18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar;
    slandering others makes you a fool.

Read full chapter

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.(A)

Read full chapter

23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool,
    but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

Read full chapter

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,(A)
so wisdom is for a person of understanding.

Read full chapter

29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

Read full chapter

29 The one who brings ruin on his household(A)
will inherit the wind,(B)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

Read full chapter

15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to others.

16 A fool is quick-tempered,
    but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

Read full chapter

15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,(A)
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

16 A fool’s displeasure is known at once,
but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.(B)

Read full chapter

23 The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,
    but fools broadcast their foolishness.

Read full chapter

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.(A)

Read full chapter

16 Wise people think before they act;
    fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

Read full chapter

16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(A)

Read full chapter