“How long will you simpletons ¹  love naiveté? ²  How long ³  will mockers ⁴  delight ⁵  in mockery ⁶  and fools ⁷  hate knowledge?

For the waywardness ¹  of the simpletons will kill ²  them, and the careless ease ³  of fools will destroy them.

The wisdom of the shrewd person ¹  is to discern ²  his way, but the folly of fools is deception. ³ 

Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is known ¹  even in the heart ²  of fools.

A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! ¹ 

Like legs that hang limp ¹  from the lame, so ²  is a proverb ³  in the mouth of fools.

The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard ¹  among fools.

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

The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis ¹  are misled; the rulers ²  of her tribes lead Egypt astray.

Do I have a shortage of fools, that you have brought me this man to display his insanity in front of me? Should this man enter my house?”

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, ²  “There is no God.” ³  They sin and commit evil deeds; ⁴  none of them does what is right. ⁵ 

Surely ¹  one sees ²  that even wise people die; ³  fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away ⁴  and leave their wealth to others. ⁵ 

Insight ¹  is like ²  a life-giving fountain ³  to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools. ⁴ 

When you make a vow ¹  to God, do not delay in paying it. ²  For God ³  takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. ¹ 

It is better for a person to receive ¹  a rebuke from those who are wise ²  than to listen to the song ³  of fools.

Destructive forces will come against her false prophets; ¹  they will be shown to be fools! ²  Destructive forces will come against her soldiers; they will be filled with terror! ³ 

How could I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the fools ¹  in Israel! Just ²  speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

For the music director; according to the machalath style; ²  a well-written song ³  by David. Fools say to themselves, ⁴  “There is no God.” ⁵  They sin and commit evil deeds; ⁶  none of them does what is right. ⁷ 

¹ Be careful what you do ²  when you go to the temple ³  of God; draw near to listen ⁴  rather than to offer a sacrifice ⁵  like fools, ⁶  for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.