PROVERBS – What is the Fool?

PROVERBS – What is the Fool? September 28, 2006
Over the last month or so I have been publishing collections of proverbs. Today, I would like to share with you a collection of proverbs which speak of the fool. I encourage you to read these slowly and ask yourself the following questions:

  • In what ways am I like the fool?
  • How can I learn not to be a fool but instead to be wise?


THE FOOL IN PROVERBS

Prov 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 1:22
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Prov 1:32
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them.

Prov 3:35
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Prov 8:5
O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

Prov 10:8
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Prov 10:10
Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Prov 10:14
The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Prov 10:18
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Prov 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Prov 10:23
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Prov 11:29
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

Prov 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Prov 12:16
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Prov 12:23
A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Prov 13:16
In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

Prov 13:19
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Prov 13:20
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Prov 14:3
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Prov 14:7
Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Prov 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Prov 14:9
Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Prov 14:16
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Prov 14:24
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

Prov 14:33
Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

Prov 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Prov 15:5
A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Prov 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Prov 15:14
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Prov 16:22
Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Prov 17:7
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

Prov 17:10
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

Prov 17:12
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

Prov 17:16
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

Prov 17:21
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Prov 17:24
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Prov 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Prov 18:2
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Prov 18:6
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

Prov 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Prov 19:1
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Prov 19:10
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

Prov 19:29
Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

Prov 20:3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.

Prov 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Prov 24:7
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.

Prov 26:1
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Prov 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

Prov 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Prov 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Prov 26:6
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Prov 26:7
Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Prov 26:8
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.

Prov 26:9
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Prov 26:10
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

Prov 26:11
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Prov 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 27:3
A stone

is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Prov 27:22
Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.

Prov 28:26
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Prov 29:9
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Prov 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Prov 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Prov 30:22
. . . a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food.


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