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People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
    and then are angry at the Lord.

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A man’s foolishness ruins his life,[a]
    yet his heart rages against the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:3 Lit. way

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
    only fools insist on quarreling.

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Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
    but every fool is quarrelsome.

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20 The wise have wealth and luxury,
    but fools spend whatever they get.

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20 Precious treasures and oil are found[a] where the wise live,
    but a foolish man devours them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:20 So MT; LXX reads A desirable treasure will rest

15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
    but physical discipline will drive it far away.

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15 A child’s heart has a tendency to do wrong,
    but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.

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26 Honor is no more associated with fools
    than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
    and a fool with a rod to his back!

Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
    or you will become as foolish as they are.

Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
    or they will become wise in their own estimation.

Trusting a fool to convey a message
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
    is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

Honoring a fool
    is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
    is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
    is like an archer who shoots at random.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
    so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 There is more hope for fools
    than for people who think they are wise.

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On Fools

26 Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time,
so honor is inappropriate for a fool.

Like a fluttering sparrow
    or a swallow in flight,
        a curse without cause will not alight.

A whip is for the horses,
    a bridle is for the donkey,
        a rod is for the back of fools.
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness,
    or you will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness,
    or he will think himself to be wise.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own[a] feet and drinks violence.
Useless legs to the lame—
    that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
Tying a stone to a sling—
    that’s what giving honor to a fool is.
A thorn in the hand of a drunkard—
    that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
10 An archer who shoots at anyone—
    is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.
11 A dog that returns to its vomit
    is like a fool who reverts to his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?
    There’s more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:6 The Heb. lacks his own

26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish,
    but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

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26 Whoever trusts in himself is foolish,
    but whoever lives wisely will be kept safe.

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11 Fools vent their anger,
    but the wise quietly hold it back.

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11 The fool vents all his feelings,[a]
    but the wise person keeps them to himself.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
  2. Proverbs 29:11 The Heb. lacks to himself

32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,
    cover your mouth in shame.

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32 If you’ve foolishly exalted yourself
    or if you’ve plotted evil,
        put your hand over your mouth.

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