| Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish 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 vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. |
| Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. | The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. |
| Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. | A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control. |
| Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. | A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. |
| The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. |
| Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. | Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. |
| Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. | A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own 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 will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there. |
| 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. | Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he 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. | Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming 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 an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. |
| The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. | The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall. |
