Caravaggio, Saint Jerome Writing (c. 1605), Galleria Borghese. Public domain.
69 verses in the King James Version. Word study for “fool” →
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
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.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it ?
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man ? as the fool.
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him , and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
As the partridge sitteth on eggs , and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
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?
Let 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.
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be , or that he heareth of me.
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
