'Folly' in the Bible

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

then they shall bring out the young lady to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done folly in Israel, to play the prostitute in her father's house: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.

The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, "No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly; since this man is come into my house, don't do this folly.

Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what seems good to you; but to this man don't do any such folly."

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 one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel."

Please don't let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your handmaid, didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don't you do this folly.

From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn't regard the folly.

Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls 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 I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has."

I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.

He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

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

The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

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

He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

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

Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

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

Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice profanity, and to utter error against Yahweh, To make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

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

because they have worked folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I didn't command them; and I am he who knows, and am witness, says Yahweh.