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 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

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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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Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of (A)knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

(B)Fools mock at [a]sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Lit. guilt

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 (A)A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent 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 (A)He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is [a]impulsive exalts folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Lit. short of spirit

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

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(A)A fool despises his father’s instruction,
(B)But he who [a]receives correction is prudent.

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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 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

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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 for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on 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 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?

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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)Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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

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28 (A)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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

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A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his (A)own heart.

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

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13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.

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