19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(A)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(B)

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19 Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul,
    but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.
20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.

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Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(A)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(B)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

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Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you will not find competent advice.

The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
    but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but among the upright there are good intentions.

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16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(C) does foolish things,(D)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(E)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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16 The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.
17 A quick tempered person does foolish things,
    and a devious man is hated.

18 The naïve inherit folly,
    but the careful are crowned with knowledge.

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29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

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29 Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding
    as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity.

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A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(A)

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A fool rejects his father’s instructions,
    but anyone who respects[a] reproof acts sensibly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

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14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools feeds on stupidity.

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10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

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10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.

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16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(A)

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16 What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom,
    but is senseless?[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:16 Lit. but has no heart

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

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24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only[a] to earthly goals.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(A)

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28 Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;
    he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

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Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.(A)

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13 Whoever answers before listening
    is both foolish and shameful.

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