'Folly' in the Bible

And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

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.

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.