| Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm. |
| The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. |
|
| When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. | When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. |
| Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. | Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them. |
| Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. | A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back. |
| Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. | Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult. |
| The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | A fool's lips bring strife, and a fool's mouth invites a flogging. |
| Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. | Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. |
| Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion. |
| And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. | A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. |
| Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. | Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. |
| Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. | Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. |
| It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. | It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
| The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. | The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. |
