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

A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled.

Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.

But avoid profane chatter, ¹  because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, ² 

But they will not go much further, ¹  for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres. ² 

For a fool speaks disgraceful things; ¹  his mind plans out sinful deeds. ²  He commits godless deeds ³  and says misleading things about the Lord; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite ⁴  and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. ⁵ 

Although they claimed ¹  to be wise, they became fools

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.

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 

I will listen to what God the Lord says. ¹  For he will make ²  peace with his people, his faithful followers. ³  Yet they must not ⁴  return to their foolish ways.

So I decided ¹  to discern the benefit of ²  wisdom and knowledge over ³  foolish behavior and ideas; ⁴  however, I concluded ⁵  that even ⁶  this endeavor ⁷  is like ⁸  trying to chase the wind! ⁹ 

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

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet ¹  he will be master over all the fruit of ²  my labor ³  for which I worked so wisely ⁴  on earth! ⁵  This also is futile!

They are a nation devoid of wisdom, and there is no understanding among them.

My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! ¹  But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent. ² 

He ¹  leads ²  counselors away stripped ³  and makes judges ⁴  into fools. ⁵ 

Why ²  do the nations rebel? ³  Why ⁴  are the countries ⁵  devising ⁶  plots that will fail? ⁷ 

I do not associate ¹  with deceitful men, or consort ²  with those who are dishonest. ³ 

for they aroused ¹  his temper, ²  and he spoke rashly. ³ 

They acted like fools in their rebellious ways, ¹  and suffered because of their sins.