Folly

Proverbs regarding absurdity, craziness, folly, foolishness, idiocy, imprudence, inadvisability, inanity, irrationality, lunacy, madness, nonsense, senselessness, silliness, stupidity, triviality.

(See also Recklessness)

To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person.
Prov. 1:4 (read whole chapter)
For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.
Prov. 1:32 (read whole chapter)
You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!
Prov. 8:5 (read whole chapter)
"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding.
Prov. 9:4 (read whole chapter)
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding.
Prov. 9:16 (read whole chapter)
The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.
Prov. 10:8 (read whole chapter)
The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.
The blessing from the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.
Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.
Prov. 10:21-23 (read whole chapter)
The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.
Prov. 11:29 (read whole chapter)
The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.
A fool's annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.
Prov. 12:15-16 (read whole chapter)
The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people publicize folly.
Prov. 12:23 (read whole chapter)
Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame, but the one who accepts reproof is honored.
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools abhor turning away from evil.
The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Prov. 13:16-20 (read whole chapter)
The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor.
Prov. 14:8-9 (read whole chapter)
A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.
Prov. 14:16 (read whole chapter)
A fool rejects his father's discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.
Prov. 15:5 (read whole chapter)
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
Prov. 15:14 (read whole chapter)
A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.
Prov. 17:10 (read whole chapter)
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
Prov. 17:16 (read whole chapter)
A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.
The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.
Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
Prov. 17:25-28 (read whole chapter)
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.
Prov. 18:2 (read whole chapter)
The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.
The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.
Prov. 18:6-7 (read whole chapter)
The one who gives an answer before he listens - that is his folly and his shame.
Prov. 18:13 (read whole chapter)
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.
It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.
Prov. 19:1-2 (read whole chapter)
A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.
Prov. 19:13 (read whole chapter)
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools.
Prov. 19:29 (read whole chapter)
A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.
Prov. 22:3 (read whole chapter)
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Prov. 23:9 (read whole chapter)
Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.
Prov. 24:7 (read whole chapter)
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.
A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.
Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.
Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.
Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Prov. 26:1-12 (read whole chapter)
A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.
Prov. 27:3 (read whole chapter)
Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it all.
Prov. 28:5 (read whole chapter)
The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.
Prov. 28:26 (read whole chapter)
If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.
Prov. 29:9 (read whole chapter)