Perhaps nowhere in the Bible is a fool made more obvious than in the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs is full of warnings against the foolish, and clearly paints a picture of a person who is devoid of wisdom and understanding.
In Proverbs 10:23, it says “A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,” and in 16:22, it reads “Wise men are instructed by reason; fools, by vain talk.” Focalizing the term “fool”, the bible also states that a fool will try and talk his way out of anything, experiencing pleasure in bad behaviour as presented in Proverbs 12:1-4. The bible defines a fool as someone who speaks without thought and is unable to receive proper instruction. The Bible further will do well to explain how a fool will humble himself, or find himself in the most disturbing self-despising situation.
Contrastingly, the bible also speaks of the fool becoming wise through experience, as in Proverbs 17:10 – “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool”. This suggests that the fool is capable of becoming wise as he learns from his experiences and can come to appreciate the deeper meaning of life.
Among other scriptures many will go on to quote Ecclesiastes 10:3 “Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool”. The Book of Proverbs paints a picture of a person who is void of wisdom and understanding, who speaks without thought and often ends up in difficult situations. It makes clear that a foolish man will take pleasure in wicked schemes and be unable to receive proper instruction.
Finally, Proverbs 26:11 reads “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly”. It suggests that a foolish man is often too persistent in his folly to listen to advice, and thus make the same mistakes time and time again.
The Toll of Folly on Others
The consequences of foolishness are not only limited to the foolish man himself, but can be felt by those around him as well. The bible notes that Solomon’s wealth and glory suffered as a result of his foolishness (1 Kings 11:1-13). Further, Proverbs 14:7 reflects on this, stating “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not find words of knowledge”.
Not only this, the bible states that a threat to the wise is a foolish man in Proverbs 29:20, further elaborating on how a foolish man will allow his poor decisions to affect other people. In this same verse it is stated that the joy of the sensible is how to do justice. Herein, this verse speaks on how important justice is for the wise and how a foolish man’s actions can disrupt it.
This can be seen in the Book of Proverbs, which often speaks of kings who despite having wisdom and authority, become a victim of a foolish man due to his inability to separate himself from bad companions. This is discussed further in Proverbs 13:20 which reads “Walk with the wise and you become wise, and a friend of fools becomes an unfortunate man”.
The Consequences of Folly
The bible points out the numerous consequences of foolishness, as seen in Proverbs 1:32 where it is said that, “for whatever they plan to do will be defeated”. Here, the bible illustrates how the evil intentions of the foolish will be thwarted by their own foolishness. Further, the bible warns against poor judgement from the beginning, as can be seen in Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. This emphasises the importance of wisdom for good judgement, and the consequences that follow when foolishness is not addressed.
In Proverbs 14:18, the bible also states that “The naive will get into real trouble” which clearly outlines the risk that a foolish person takes in making ill-informed decisions. The bible further speaks of the consequences of foolishness in Proverbs 18:7 which reads “Fools are overwhelmed with troubles”. While this may seem obvious, it underlines the fact that foolishness almost always leads to misfortune, and that it can be easy to be caught up in a situation due to a lack of wisdom.
Finally, in Proverbs 17:12 it is written “Let a person meeting with a fool be on guard about foolishness”. This highlights the danger of even being in the presence of a fool, and the importance of remaining vigilant when around them.
The Purpose of Folly
Despite the apparent negatives of foolishness, the bible often speaks of the purpose of folly in our lives, as in Proverbs 19:25 which states “Foolishness is also bound in one’s heart and life, but the one who holds his tongue will be wise”. Here, there is a clear message amidst the warning of foolishness: it is often the wise man that knows when not to speak, and so if a person is aware of their own limitations, they will be able to avoid foolishness.
The bible also advises that even the wise man should be aware of his foolishness in Proverbs 26:4 which states “Do not answer a fool according to his folly”. This suggests that for a wise man, being aware of his own limitations is key in avoiding foolishness, and allowing him to develop wisdom from his experiences.
The bible further notes in Proverbs 12:15 that “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes” showing that the foolish man can often be too stubborn in his thinking to receive instruction, and will continue down the path of foolishness despite this.
Finally, the bible speaks of the futility of a foolish man’s labour, as in Proverbs 14:23 which states “In all labour there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty”. Here, the bible explains that wisdom is often more important than hard work, as the hard work of a foolish man can often be fruitless.
Can the Fools Be Redeemed?
The bible reckons in Proverbs 10:15 that “The wages of a fool are trouble” suggesting that even if a foolish man has escaped his bad decisions, he will still face the consequences of them. This sentence conveys the importance of avoiding foolishness for even if ones actions can be reversed, there is still a price to pay.
The bible notes that even the fool is capable of wisdom, however, it must be gained from understanding and experience, as in Proverbs 10:21 which states “The lips of the righteous bring forth wisdom, but the foolish do not understand this”. Therefore, this implies that wisdom does not come without effort on the part of the foolish.
The bible reckons in Proverbs 23:9 that “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words”. Here, even if the fool can be redeemed, he must first understand the value of wisdom. As such, the bible conveys a very important message: wisdom is only gained through a combination of understanding and experience, and a fool must have the right guidance to become wise.
This is further elaborated on in Proverbs 28:26 which reads “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool”. Here, the bible speaks of the foolish man’s tendency to rely on his own judgement, and how this can lead to folly. It is therefore important for the fool to be able to trust in the judgement of others, and to seek advice from those with wisdom.
The Warnings of Folly
The bible speaks of many warnings concerning foolishness, particularly in Proverbs 8:33-34 which reads ” Leave foolishness behind and you will live; walk on in the way of understanding”. Herein, it is made clear that wise words are the key to living a prosperous life, and that those who avoid foolishness and take heed of advice will be blessed.
Proverbs 19:13 further states “A foolish son destroys his father’s house”, making clear that even a foolish man’s house may suffer due to his ignorance. In this way, the bible conveys a powerful warning to those who do not turn away from foolishness.
The bible goes on to explain still, in Proverbs 22:15 “Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth” conveying that even if a fool is young, he may still be capable of understanding the wisdom of the elders. Thus, this serves as a warning to those who do not take heed of wise counsel, regardless of their age.
Finally, Ecclesiastes 7:19 reads “Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers who are in a city”. Here, the bible speaks to the power of wisdom being greater than that of any authority. It is through wisdom that a fool is established, and happens to be the same trait which can prevent foolishness.
