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PROVERBS – What is the Fool?

PROVERBS – What is the Fool?

Last updated on: September 16, 2017 at 6:40 pm by Adrian Warnock

2,217 Comments

PROVERBS – What is the Fool? 2017-09-16T18:40:54+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Over the last month

or so I have been publishing collections of proverbs. Today, I would like to share with you a collection of proverbs which speak of the fool. I encourage you to read these slowly and ask yourself the following questions:

In what ways am I like the fool?

How can I learn not to be a fool but instead to be wise?

THE FOOL IN PROVERBS

Prov 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 1:22
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Prov 1:32
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them.

Prov 3:35
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Prov 8:5
O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

Prov 10:8
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Prov 10:10
Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Prov 10:14
The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Prov 10:18
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Prov 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Prov 10:23
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Prov 11:29
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

Prov 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Prov 12:16
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Prov 12:23
A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Prov 13:16
In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

Prov 13:19
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Prov 13:20
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Prov 14:3
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Prov 14:7
Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Prov 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Prov 14:9
Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Prov 14:16
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Prov 14:24
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

Prov 14:33
Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

Prov 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Prov 15:5
A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Prov 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Prov 15:14
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Prov 16:22
Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Prov 17:7
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

Prov 17:10
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

Prov 17:12
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

Prov 17:16
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

Prov 17:21
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Prov 17:24
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Prov 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Prov 18:2
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Prov 18:6
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

Prov 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Prov 19:1
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Prov 19:10
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

Prov 19:29
Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

Prov 20:3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.

Prov 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Prov 24:7
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.

Prov 26:1
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Prov 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

Prov 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Prov 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Prov 26:6
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Prov 26:7
Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Prov 26:8
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.

Prov 26:9
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Prov 26:10
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

Prov 26:11
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Prov 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 27:3
A stone

is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Prov 27:22
Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.

Prov 28:26
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Prov 29:9
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Prov 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Prov 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 30:22
. . . a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food.

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