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Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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22 “How long, you simpletons,
    will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
    How long will you fools hate knowledge?

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32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
    Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

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You simple people, use good judgment.
    You foolish people, show some understanding.

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Folly Calls for a Hearing

13 The woman named Folly is brash.
    She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
14 She sits in her doorway
    on the heights overlooking the city.
15 She calls out to men going by
    who are minding their own business.
16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
    To those who lack good judgment, she says,
17 “Stolen water is refreshing;
    food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there.
    Her guests are in the depths of the grave.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:18 Hebrew in Sheol.

The wise are glad to be instructed,
    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

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18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar;
    slandering others makes you a fool.

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23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool,
    but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

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29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

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15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to others.

16 A fool is quick-tempered,
    but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

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23 The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,
    but fools broadcast their foolishness.

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16 Wise people think before they act;
    fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

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19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

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Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

The prudent understand where they are going,
    but fools deceive themselves.

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

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16 The wise are cautious[a] and avoid danger;
    fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

17 Short-tempered people do foolish things,
    and schemers are hated.

18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,[b]
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Hebrew The wise fear.
  2. 14:18 Or inherit foolishness.

29 People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

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Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.

14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
    while the fool feeds on trash.

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10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
    than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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16 It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,
    since he has no heart for learning.

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24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

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28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

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