I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. ¹  But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion! Do not make me the object of fools’ insults!

O God, you are aware of my foolish sins; ¹  my guilt is not hidden from you. ² 

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 

In ¹  the speech ²  of a fool is a rod for his back, ³  but the words ⁴  of the wise protect them.

Answer a fool according to his folly, ¹  lest he be wise in his own estimation. ² 

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

At the beginning his words ¹  are foolish and at the end ²  his talk ³  is wicked madness, ⁴ 

If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself ¹  or if you have planned evil, put ²  your hand over your mouth!

Guard against self-deception, each of you. ¹  If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.

But he replied, ¹  “You’re talking like one of the godless ²  women would do! Should we receive ³  what is good from God, and not also ⁴  receive ⁵  what is evil?” ⁶  In all this Job did not sin by what he said. ⁷ 

If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world ¹  do you continue this meaningless talk? ² 

For I envied those who are proud, as I observed ¹  the prosperity ²  of the wicked.

The wise person ¹  accepts instructions, ²  but the one who speaks foolishness ³  will come to ruin. ⁴ 

Every shrewd ¹  person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays ²  his folly.

The naive inherit ¹  folly, but the shrewd ²  are crowned ³  with knowledge.

The tongue of the wise ¹  treats knowledge correctly, ²  but the mouth of the fool spouts out ³  folly.

I said of partying, ¹  “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure, ²  “It accomplishes nothing!” ³ 

The fool folds his hands and does no work, ¹  so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh. ² 

Surely oppression ¹  can turn a wise person into a fool; ²  likewise, ³  a bribe corrupts ⁴  the heart. ⁵