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People’s own foolishness ·ruins their lives [L frustrates their path],
but in their ·minds [L hearts] they ·blame [rage at] the Lord.

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The (A)foolishness of a person ruins his way,
And his heart (B)rages against the Lord.

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Foolish people are always fighting,
but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].

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(A)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [a]quarrel.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out

20 Wise people’s houses are full of ·the best foods [or precious treasure] and olive oil,
but fools ·waste [consume; L swallow] everything they have.

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20 There is precious (A)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person (B)swallows it up.

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15 ·Every child is full of foolishness [L Stupidity/Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child],
but ·punishment can get rid of it [L the rod of discipline drives it far from them].

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15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The (A)rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

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26 It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.
Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.

Curses ·will not harm someone who is innocent [that are undeserved never stick];
they are like ·darting [flitting] birds or flying swallows.

Whips are for horses, and ·harnesses [bridles] are for donkeys,
·so paddles are good for fools [L and rods for the backs of fools].

Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.

Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will ·think they are really wise [L be wise in their own eyes; C a wise person must read the situation to know whether to answer or not].

Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking ·poison [L violence].

A ·wise saying spoken by [L proverb in the mouth of] a fool
·is as useless as [L dangles like] the legs of a crippled person.

Giving honor to a foolish person
is like ·tying a stone [L a bag of stones] in a slingshot.

A ·wise saying spoken by [L proverb in the mouth of] a fool
is like a ·thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk [L thornbush in the hand of a fool].

10 Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing by
is like an archer shooting ·at just anything [randomly].

11 A fool who repeats his ·foolishness [foolish mistakes]
is like a dog that goes back to ·what it has thrown up [its vomit; 2 Pet. 2:22].

12 There is more hope for a foolish person
than for those who ·think they are wise [L are wise in their own eyes].

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Similitudes and Instructions

26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not come to rest.
A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
(G)Do not answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
(H)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like [c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that [e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (K)repeats [g]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
  2. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
  3. Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
  4. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  5. Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
  6. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  7. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his

26 Those who trust in ·themselves [L their own hearts] are foolish,
but those who ·live wisely [L walk in wisdom] will be ·kept safe [or refreshed].

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26 One who (A)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.

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11 Foolish people ·lose their tempers [or let nothing go unexpressed; L let all their spirit out],
but wise people ·control theirs [quiet things down afterward].

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11 A (A)fool [a]always loses his temper,
But a (B)wise person holds it back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit

32 “If you have been foolish and proud,
    or if you have planned evil, ·shut [L put your hand to] your mouth [Job 40:2].

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32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, (A)put your hand on your mouth.

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