all will be put to shame ¹  because of a nation that cannot help them, who cannot give them aid or help, but only shame and disgrace.”

Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. ¹  How long will Asshur take you away captive?”

Their hearts are calloused, ¹  but I find delight in your law.

The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up ¹  to public contempt. ² 

Fools mock ¹  at reparation, ²  but among the upright there is favor. ³ 

A foolish child is a grief ¹  to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. ² 

The one who gives an answer ¹  before he listens ²  – that is his folly and his shame. ³ 

For the wise man, like ¹  the fool, will not be remembered for very long, ²  because ³  in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. ⁴  Alas, ⁵  the wise man dies – just like ⁶  the fool!

Can horses run on rocky cliffs? Can one plow the sea with oxen? ¹  Yet you have turned justice into a poisonous plant, and the fruit of righteous actions into a bitter plant. ² 

Because ¹  you have closed their ²  minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them. ³ 

I concluded, ¹  “Surely in vain I have kept my motives ²  pure and maintained a pure lifestyle. ³ 

The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child ²  makes a father rejoice, ³  but a foolish child ⁴  is a grief to his mother. ⁵ 

The one who troubles ¹  his family ²  will inherit nothing, ³  and the fool ⁴  will be a servant to the wise person. ⁵ 

The one who lacks wisdom ¹  strikes hands in pledge, ²  and puts up financial security ³  for his neighbor. ⁴ 

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom. ¹ 

I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, ¹  just as light is preferable to darkness:

A wise person’s good sense protects him, ¹  but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. ² 

The toil of a stupid fool ¹  wears him out, ²  because he does not even know the way to the city. ³ 

Again the Lord said to me, “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. ¹