The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. … The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. …  Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. … The fool will be servant to the wise.

The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. … The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. … The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel …  Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you yourself will be just like them … Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.

To send a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. Do you see people who are wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.

Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time?

Jb 5:2; Pr 10:8, Pr 10:14, Pr 10:18, Pr 11:29; Pr 14:16, Pr 15:2, Pr 15:14; Pr 20:3, Pr 26:4-5; Pr 26:6-9; Pr 26:10-12; Ec 7:17

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