Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm. |
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction. |
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When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. | When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, for God has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill the vow you have made. |
Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. | A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. |
Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. | The words of a wise man win favor, but a fool’s tongue is his undoing. |
Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. | The lips of a fool cause strife, and his mouth provokes a flogging. |
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. | Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent. |
Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only delights in expressing his own opinions. |
Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. | It is honorable to avoid strife, but every fool is quarrelsome. |
And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. | A highway will be there that will be called the Way of Holiness. No one who is unclean may pass over it; it will serve as a path for pilgrims and no fool will be able to use it. |
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. | Therefore, take care to live as intelligent people, and do not be like those who are senseless. Make the most of the present time, for this is a wicked age. |
The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. | A wise man will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to grief. |
A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. | A fool is quick to show his anger, but a prudent man ignores an insult. |
Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. | Let no one delude himself. If anyone among you considers himself to be wise by worldly standards, he must become a fool in order to be truly wise. |