Foolishness

Foolishness, or folly, is the rejection of wisdom, instruction, and the fear of the Lord. The fool says in his heart there is no God, is right in his own eyes, despises correction, and returns to his folly, while the foolishness of God is wiser than men.

The fool's heart

• Psalm 14:1
  The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
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• Proverbs 1:7
  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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• Proverbs 12:15
  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
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• Proverbs 28:26
  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
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Folly and correction

• Proverbs 26:11
  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
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• Proverbs 27:22
  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
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• Proverbs 17:10
  A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
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• Proverbs 22:15
  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
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The fool's speech

• Proverbs 10:14
  Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.
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• Proverbs 18:2
  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
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• Proverbs 29:11
  A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
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• Proverbs 17:28
  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
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• Ecclesiastes 10:12
  The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
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Answering a fool

• Proverbs 26:4-5
  ⁴Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. ⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
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• Proverbs 23:9
  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
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• Proverbs 14:7
  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
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Foolish builders and stewards

• Matthew 7:26-27
  ²⁶And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
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• Luke 12:20
  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
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• Matthew 25:2-3
  ²And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
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The foolishness of God

• 1 Corinthians 1:18
  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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• 1 Corinthians 1:25
  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
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• 1 Corinthians 3:18-19
  ¹⁸Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
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See also

• Wisdom
• Pride
• Speech
• Counsel

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.