¹ sn One should not answer a fool’s foolish questions in line with the fool’s mode of reasoning (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 274).

² tn Heb “a fool of a man.”

² sn The phrase “the heart of fools” emphasizes that fools do not comprehend knowledge. Cf. NCV “there is no knowledge in the thoughts of fools.”

³ tn Heb “he will be [= prove to be] a fool.”

² tn Heb “to a man”; cf. CEV “Everyone hates senseless fools.”

² tn Heb “a fool of a man,” a genitive of specification.

² tn Heb “remember your reproach from a fool all the day.”

¹ tn Heb “and you will be like one of the fools.”

³ sn A fool’s lack of wisdom is obvious to everyone, even when he is engaged in the simple, ordinary actions of life.

¹ sn A fool must be disciplined by force like an animal—there is no reasoning. The fool is as difficult to manage as the donkey or horse.

² sn The person who descends to the level of a fool to argue with him only looks like a fool as well.

² sn The first twelve verses of this chapter, Prov 26:1-12, are sometimes called “the Book of Fools” because they deal with the actions of fools.

³ tn Heb “calls for.” This is personification: What the fool says “calls for” a beating or flogging. The fool deserves punishment, but does not actually request it.

⁴ tn Heb “a fool says in his heart.” The singular is used here in a collective or representative sense; the typical fool is envisioned.

² tn Heb “a fool says in his heart.” The singular is used here in a collective or representative sense; the typical fool is envisioned.

² tn Or “makes fools of” (NIV, NRSV); NAB and NASB both similar.

³ tn In this context “fools” are those who are morally corrupt, not those with limited intellectual capacity.

² tn Heb “in the inner part”; ASV “in the inward part”; NRSV “in the heart of fools.”

² tn Heb “an abomination of fools.” The noun כְּסִילִים (k^esilim, “fools”) functions as a subjective genitive: “fools hate to turn away from evil” (cf. NAB, TEV, CEV). T. T. Perowne says: “In spite of the sweetness of good desires accomplished, fools will not forsake evil to attain it” (Proverbs, 103). Cf. Prov 13:12; 29:27.

⁴ tn Heb “the fool of lips”; cf. NASB “a babbling fool.” The phrase is a genitive of specification: “a fool in respect to lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause (= lips) for effect (= speech). The word for fool (אֶוִיל, ʾevil) refers to someone who despises knowledge and discernment.