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Think again, you fools!
    When will you finally catch on?

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Take notice, you senseless ones(A) among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?

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Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

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At one time(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

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Only a simpleton would not know,
    and only a fool would not understand this:

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Senseless people(A) do not know,
    fools do not understand,

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11 No one is truly wise;
    no one is seeking God.

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11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.

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10 Those who are wise must finally die,
    just like the foolish and senseless,
    leaving all their wealth behind.

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10 For all can see that the wise die,(A)
    that the foolish and the senseless(B) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(C) to others.(D)

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29 Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!
    Oh, that they might know their fate!

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29 If only they were wise and would understand this(A)
    and discern what their end will be!(B)

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People who worship idols are stupid and foolish.
    The things they worship are made of wood!

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They are all senseless(A) and foolish;(B)
    they are taught by worthless wooden idols.(C)

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I listen to their conversations
    and don’t hear a word of truth.
Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?
    Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”?
No! All are running down the path of sin
    as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!
Even the stork that flies across the sky
    knows the time of her migration,
as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane.[a]
    They all return at the proper time each year.
But not my people!
    They do not know the Lord’s laws.

“‘How can you say, “We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,”
    when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?

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Footnotes

  1. 8:7 The identification of some of these birds is uncertain.

I have listened(A) attentively,
    but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent(B) of their wickedness,
    saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course(C)
    like a horse charging into battle.
Even the stork in the sky
    knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
    observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know(D)
    the requirements of the Lord.

“‘How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law(E) of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?

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11 The people are like the dead branches of a tree,
    broken off and used for kindling beneath the cooking pots.
Israel is a foolish and stupid nation,
    for its people have turned away from God.
Therefore, the one who made them
    will show them no pity or mercy.

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11 When its twigs are dry, they are broken off(A)
    and women come and make fires(B) with them.
For this is a people without understanding;(C)
    so their Maker has no compassion on them,
    and their Creator(D) shows them no favor.(E)

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12 To learn, you must love discipline;
    it is stupid to hate correction.

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12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(A)

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

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You who are simple,(A) gain prudence;(B)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds

22 I was so foolish and ignorant—
    I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

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22 I was senseless(A) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast(B) before you.

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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?

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22 “How long will you who are simple(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(B) knowledge?

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