{"id":5044,"date":"2025-10-09T17:54:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T00:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/?p=5044"},"modified":"2025-10-09T17:54:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T00:54:46","slug":"discerning-the-path-of-wisdom-understanding-the-biblical-fool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/2025\/10\/09\/discerning-the-path-of-wisdom-understanding-the-biblical-fool\/","title":{"rendered":"Discerning the Path of Wisdom: Understanding the Biblical “Fool”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Proverbs 26:1-11<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so\u00a0honor is\u00a0not fitting for a fool.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>Like\u00a0a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>a curse that is causeless does not alight.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0a rod for the back of fools.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>Answer not a fool according to his folly,<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>lest you be like him yourself.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>Answer a fool according to his folly,<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>lest he be\u00a0wise in his own eyes.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>cuts off his own feet and\u00a0drinks violence.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is a proverb in the mouth of fools.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>Like one who binds the stone in the sling<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0one who gives honor to a fool.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>Like\u00a0a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is a proverb in the mouth of fools.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>Like an archer who wounds everyone<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>Like\u00a0a dog that returns to his vomit<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0a fool who repeats his folly.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When we hear the word “fool,”<\/strong><\/em><\/span> we often picture a clown or a harmless simpleton. But the “fool”<\/strong><\/em><\/span> described throughout the book of Proverbs<\/span> is not a comic figure; he is a spiritually dangerous, destructive, and defiant<\/b><\/span> individual. Developing the wisdom to recognize and respond to this kind of person is crucial for a healthy life.<\/p>\n

Before exploring this, a key distinction must be made regarding Christ\u2019s warning in Matthew 5:221<\/a><\/sup>But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, \u2018You fool!\u2019 will be liable to the hell of fire.<\/span> against calling someone a “fool.”<\/strong><\/em><\/span> Jesus was not forbidding an assessment of character; He was condemning the assassination of character<\/b>.<\/span> The insult He references implied a person was worthless\u2014effectively dehumanizing them and wishing them spiritual death. Jesus was addressing the vicious, murderous contempt in the human heart. Recognizing patterns of self-destructive and anti-wisdom behavior in others, however, is not only permitted by Scripture, it is a necessary act of wisdom.<\/p>\n

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The Imperative to Recognize Folly<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Proverbs provides several powerful motivations for why we must learn to identify foolishness in the world around us.<\/p>\n

Folly is Contagious and Calamitous<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

Spending time with those who constantly reject sound judgment and make ruinous choices is perilous. Foolishness dulls our own discernment<\/b><\/span>; as Proverbs 14:7 cautions, we should “leave the presence of a fool, for you will not meet words of knowledge.”<\/b><\/em><\/span> A fool is on a path to ruin and will drag companions down with them. The text paints a grim picture: you are better off encountering a charging bear than a fool engulfed in their own folly (Proverbs 17:122<\/a><\/sup>Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.<\/span>). This carries weighty implications for choosing a spouse\u2014marrying a person of character defined by persistent foolishness is a recipe for lifelong misery.<\/p>\n

Folly Thwarts Work and Wastes Resources<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

Employing a fool is an act of self-sabotage. Proverbs 26:63<\/a><\/sup>Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.<\/span> illustrates this with striking imagery, comparing sending a message by a fool to cutting off one\u2019s own feet. Furthermore, hiring one is like an archer blindly wounding everyone in sight (Proverbs 26:104<\/a><\/sup>Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.<\/span>). The lesson is clear: responsible leadership demands prioritizing character over mere credentials<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Folly is Natural, and Must Be Driven Out<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

Proverbs 22:15 states the sober truth that “folly is bound up in the heart of a child.”<\/b> <\/em><\/span>This is a statement of realism, not pessimism. It means children are naturally inclined toward self-will and the rejection of wisdom. The hope lies in consistent, loving discipline<\/b><\/span>, which the text says can drive that natural foolishness out. Early detection and steadfast correction are essential for a child’s spiritual and moral development.<\/p>\n

Folly is Blind to Correction<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

We must treat the wise and the foolish differently when it comes to instruction. A wise person welcomes correction as a gift, but a fool despises it and will respond with hatred and hostility (Proverbs 9:7-85<\/a><\/sup>Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.<\/span>). Wisdom requires us to discern when we are<\/span> “casting pearls before swine”<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (Matthew 7:6), avoiding the futile and damaging effort of offering wisdom to someone who will only scorn the gift and attack the giver.<\/p>\n

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The Defining Characteristics of the Fool<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

As the book of Proverbs reveals, the fool is not simply ignorant; the fool is defined by a deep and pervasive moral condition.<\/p>\n

An Unrighteous and Rebellious Core<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

At their heart, the fool is profoundly unrighteous. They do not struggle with sin\u2014they delight in it<\/b>.<\/span> They treat wickedness as a game (Proverbs 10:236<\/a><\/sup>Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.<\/span>) and mock at the idea of turning from evil (Proverbs 13:197<\/a><\/sup>A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.<\/span>). This is not someone who occasionally stumbles but someone who has fundamentally embraced a life hostile to God.<\/p>\n

A Profound Anti-Wisdom<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

The fool is not merely lacking wisdom; they are actively hostile toward it<\/b><\/span>. They reject instruction (Proverbs 1:78<\/a><\/sup>The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.<\/span>) and have “no heart”<\/em><\/span> for understanding<\/span><\/b> (Proverbs 17:169<\/a><\/sup>Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?<\/span>). They are so convinced of their own opinion that they take no pleasure in seeking or gaining understanding, only in broadcasting their own mind (Proverbs 18:210<\/a><\/sup>A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.<\/span>). Wisdom is freely offered, but the fool consistently spurns it.<\/p>\n

A Life of Arrogance and Unreality<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

The fool lives in a self-constructed reality built on “insolent pride” <\/span><\/strong><\/em>(Proverbs 21:2411<\/a><\/sup>\u201cScoffer\u201d is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.<\/span>). They wildly overestimate their own capabilities and believe wisdom is easily acquired, not the fruit of diligence and the fear of the Lord. Their eyes are always on far-off fantasies, while they ignore the immediate realities and practical demands of life (Proverbs 17:2412<\/a><\/sup>The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.<\/span>).<\/p>\n

Utter Lack of Discipline<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

Every aspect of the fool\u2019s life is marked by disorder. They are reckless with resources (Proverbs 21:2013<\/a><\/sup>Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.<\/span>), unable to control a volatile temper (Proverbs 29:1114<\/a><\/sup>A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.<\/span>), and, most notably, undisciplined with their words<\/b>.<\/span> They are the “babbling fool”<\/b><\/em><\/span>, incapable of holding their tongue, spouting folly openly while a prudent person conceals knowledge (Proverbs 12:2315<\/a><\/sup>A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.<\/span>).<\/p>\n

Complete Unreliability and Unteachability<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

The fool is untrustworthy in both deed and word. They lie, slander, and deceive (Proverbs 10:1816<\/a><\/sup>The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.<\/span>). Worst of all, they are<\/span> impenetrable to learning.<\/span><\/strong> Verbal correction only elicits insults and hatred (Proverbs 9:7-817<\/a><\/sup>Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.<\/span>), and Proverbs 27:2218<\/a><\/sup>Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.<\/span> offers the shocking image that you could beat a fool in a mortar and still not separate him from his folly. Like a dog returning to its vomit, they compulsively repeat the same destructive errors (Proverbs 26:1119<\/a><\/sup>Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.<\/span>).<\/p>\n

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The Root Cause: Self-Trust Over God\u2019s Fear<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

At the very heart of folly are two intertwined choices: rejecting God\u2019s wisdom<\/b> <\/span>and confidently relying on one\u2019s own judgment<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fool’s condition is not due to ignorance but to willful rejection<\/strong><\/span>. Wisdom calls out everywhere, but the fool has refused<\/i><\/strong><\/span> her invitation (Proverbs 1<\/strong><\/a>). When God is refused as the source of guidance, the vacuum is instantly filled by the self. The fool is “right in his own eyes”<\/b><\/em><\/span> (Proverbs 12:1520<\/a><\/sup>The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.<\/span>) and trusts his own heart above all else (Proverbs 28:2621<\/a><\/sup>Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.<\/span>).<\/p>\n

This illuminates the true nature of Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”<\/b><\/em><\/span> The fool does the exact opposite: leaning on his own understanding, he rejects the fear of the Lord. This self-reliance breeds arrogance, complacent rejection of all authority, and an autonomous, reckless spirit.<\/p>\n

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Strategies for Responding to Folly<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Given the nature of the fool, Proverbs instructs us mostly through cautionary, defensive counsel:<\/p>\n

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  1. Avoid Them:<\/b> <\/em><\/span>The most essential advice is to separate yourself. Folly is contagious and dangerous; leave the presence of a fool (Proverbs 14:722<\/a><\/sup>Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.<\/span>).<\/li>\n
  2. Do Not Waste Wisdom:<\/b> <\/em><\/span>Do not offer profound insights or counsel to those who will only mock it (Proverbs 23:923<\/a><\/sup>Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.<\/span>).<\/li>\n
  3. Do Not Sink to Their Level:<\/b> <\/em><\/span>When provoked, resist the urge to answer a fool’s insult with your own, lest you become exactly like them (Proverbs 26:424<\/a><\/sup>Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.<\/span>).<\/li>\n
  4. Do Not Honor Them:<\/b> <\/em><\/span>To honor a fool is inappropriate and merely feeds their pride (Proverbs 26:125<\/a><\/sup>Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.<\/span>).<\/li>\n
  5. Do Not Attempt Correction with Words Alone:<\/b><\/em><\/span> Verbal reproof only brings you dishonor and insult (Proverbs 9:7-826<\/a><\/sup>Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.<\/span>). When a wise person argues with a fool, the result is never productive (Proverbs 29:927<\/a><\/sup>If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.<\/span>).<\/li>\n
  6. Do Not Cushion Consequences:<\/b> <\/em><\/span>The painful, natural consequences of foolish choices are often the only things that can stop the fool’s path. Do not prevent them from experiencing the hardness of their own way (Proverbs 18:6-728<\/a><\/sup>A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.<\/span>).<\/li>\n
  7. When Discipline is Necessary, it Must be Severe:<\/b><\/em><\/span> Since lectures are ignored, a different kind of severity is required (Proverbs 26:329<\/a><\/sup>A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.<\/span>). This may not change the fool, but it serves as a solemn warning to others (Proverbs 19:2530<\/a><\/sup>Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.<\/span>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    The Hope for Transformation<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    After all this, is the fool completely without hope? Yes, if their hope is in self-help or human reformation. The fool’s problem is a heart problem<\/b>,<\/span> and as they cannot be reasoned, shamed, or even beaten out of their condition, they do not need reformation\u2014they need transformation<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Proverbs shows that Wisdom herself calls out to the “simple ones”<\/b><\/em><\/span> (Proverbs 1:22-2331<\/a><\/sup>How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.<\/span>), urging them to turn and live. The solution is not better instruction, but a new heart<\/b><\/span> that trades self-trust for the fear of the Lord.<\/p>\n

    As Tim Keller states, “True wisdom is to accept salvation by grace, and the heart of folly is to try to save yourself.”<\/b><\/em><\/span> Only the Gospel<\/b><\/span>, by the power of Christ’s cross, can transform the heart of a fool.<\/p>\n

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    Final Reflection on Wisdom<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    Sin is Folly<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

    When we choose to sin, we are choosing to play the fool. We conclude that our judgment is superior to God\u2019s, rejecting His boundary as unwise and our transgression as a path to greater knowledge (Genesis 3:5-632<\/a><\/sup>For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.\u201d So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.<\/span>). Every sin is an act of foolishness.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Choice to be a “Fool”<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Ultimately, we must choose whose wisdom we will embrace. To be wise in our own eyes is to be a fool before God. To trust God<\/b> <\/span>and acknowledge our need for Him is to be a fool in the eyes of the world. The Gospel itself\u2014the message of a crucified Savior\u2014is “foolishness to those who are perishing”<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (1 Corinthians 1:1833<\/a><\/sup>For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.<\/span>). To gain true wisdom, we must be willing to become a “fool” by the world’s standards:<\/p>\n

    “If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God”<\/strong> <\/span>(1 Corinthians 3:18-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    The Cross is the Only Solution<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

    Finally, we must recognize that even Christians can stray into folly. The acts we are called to “put off”<\/b><\/em><\/span> as believers (Ephesians 4:22-32<\/strong><\/a>) are precisely the characteristics of the fool. Our greatest enemy is our own flesh, which is naturally predisposed toward self-trust and folly.<\/p>\n

    The only way to walk in wisdom is to forsake the foolishness of the flesh and embrace the wisdom of the cross: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (Galatians 2:20). The solution for the foolishness in us, and the hope for the fools around us, is not a new lecture\u2014it is Jesus Christ<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Do you need a plan? This will help:<\/strong><\/span> In Search of Godly Wisdom: A Comprehensive Guide to Divine Understanding in Christian Living<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Footnote<\/h4>
    • 1<\/span>
      But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, \u2018You fool!\u2019 will be liable to the hell of fire.<\/div><\/li>
    • 2<\/span>
      Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.<\/div><\/li>
    • 3<\/span>
      Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.<\/div><\/li>
    • 4<\/span>
      Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.<\/div><\/li>
    • 5<\/span>
      Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.<\/div><\/li>
    • 6<\/span>
      Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.<\/div><\/li>
    • 7<\/span>
      A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.<\/div><\/li>
    • 8<\/span>
      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.<\/div><\/li>
    • 9<\/span>
      Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?<\/div><\/li>
    • 10<\/span>
      A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.<\/div><\/li>
    • 11<\/span>
      \u201cScoffer\u201d is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.<\/div><\/li>
    • 12<\/span>
      The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.<\/div><\/li>
    • 13<\/span>
      Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.<\/div><\/li>
    • 14<\/span>
      A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.<\/div><\/li>
    • 15<\/span>
      A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.<\/div><\/li>
    • 16<\/span>
      The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.<\/div><\/li>
    • 17<\/span>
      Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.<\/div><\/li>
    • 18<\/span>
      Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.<\/div><\/li>
    • 19<\/span>
      Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.<\/div><\/li>
    • 20<\/span>
      The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.<\/div><\/li>
    • 21<\/span>
      Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.<\/div><\/li>
    • 22<\/span>
      Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.<\/div><\/li>
    • 23<\/span>
      Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.<\/div><\/li>
    • 24<\/span>
      Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.<\/div><\/li>
    • 25<\/span>
      Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.<\/div><\/li>
    • 26<\/span>
      Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.<\/div><\/li>
    • 27<\/span>
      If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.<\/div><\/li>
    • 28<\/span>
      A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.<\/div><\/li>
    • 29<\/span>
      A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.<\/div><\/li>
    • 30<\/span>
      Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.<\/div><\/li>
    • 31<\/span>
      How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.<\/div><\/li>
    • 32<\/span>
      For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.\u201d So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.<\/div><\/li>
    • 33<\/span>
      For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.<\/div><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Proverbs 26:1-11 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0so\u00a0honor is\u00a0not fitting for a fool. 2\u00a0Like\u00a0a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a curse that is causeless does not alight. 3\u00a0A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and\u00a0a rod for the back of fools. 4\u00a0Answer not a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotional"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5044"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5044\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}