As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

“He makes counselors walk barefootAnd makes fools of judges.

“Fools, even those without a name,They were scourged from the land.

Fools, because of their rebellious way,And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?And scoffers delight themselves in scoffingAnd fools hate knowledge?

“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

The wise will inherit honor,But fools display dishonor.

“O naive ones, understand prudence;And, O fools, understand wisdom.

The lips of the righteous feed many,But fools die for lack of understanding.

A prudent man conceals knowledge,But the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Desire realized is sweet to the soul,But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.

He who walks with wise men will be wise,But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

Fools mock at sin,But among the upright there is good will.

The crown of the wise is their riches,But the folly of fools is foolishness.

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,But the hearts of fools are not so.

The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,But the discipline of fools is folly.

Judgments are prepared for scoffers,And blows for the back of fools.

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,And a rod for the back of fools.

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!

The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise manThan for one to listen to the song of fools.

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

The princes of Zoan are mere fools;The advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisers has become stupid.How can you men say to Pharaoh,“I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”?

A highway will be there, a roadway,And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.The unclean will not travel on it,But it will be for him who walks that way,And fools will not wander on it.

Causing the omens of boasters to fail,Making fools out of diviners,Causing wise men to draw backAnd turning their knowledge into foolishness,

“A sword against the oracle priests, and they will become fools!A sword against her mighty men, and they will be shattered!

You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

Professing to be wise, they became fools,

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.