19 (A)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

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19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

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Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
(A)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance

Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

The prudent understand where they are going,
    but fools deceive themselves.

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

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16 (A)One who is wise is cautious[a] and (B)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of (C)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or fears [the Lord]

16 The wise are cautious[a] and avoid danger;
    fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

17 Short-tempered people do foolish things,
    and schemers are hated.

18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,[b]
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Hebrew The wise fear.
  2. 14:18 Or inherit foolishness.

29 Whoever is (A)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

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29 People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

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(A)A fool (B)despises his father's instruction,
    but (C)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

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Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.

14 (A)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

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14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
    while the fool feeds on trash.

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10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.

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10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
    than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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16 Why should a fool have money in his hand (A)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?

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16 It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,
    since he has no heart for learning.

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24 (A)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

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28 Even a fool (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (A)in expressing his opinion.

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Fools have no interest in understanding;
    they only want to air their own opinions.

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13 If one gives an answer (A)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.

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13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
    is both shameful and foolish.

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