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As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin,
    and against Yahweh his heart[a] will rage.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:3 Or “mind”

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

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It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
    but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

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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 Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,
    but the foolish person[a] will devour them.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:20 Or “foolish of mankind”
  2. Proverbs 21:20 Literally “it”

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 Folly is bound up in the heart[a] of a boy;[b]
    the rod of discipline will drive it[c] from him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:15 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 22:15 Or “young man,” or “adolescent”
  3. Proverbs 22:15 That is, folly

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 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying,
    so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly
    lest you become like him—even you.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
    so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like binding a stone in a sling,
    so is giving honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
    so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
11 Like a dog returning to his vomit
    is a fool reverting to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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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 He who trusts in his own heart[a] is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:26 Or “mind,” or “sense”

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 A fool gives all his breath,[a]
    but the wise holds back in quiet.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Or “spirit”

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 by exalting yourself,
    and if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth.

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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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