Mishlei 14 אויל אוולת

BySarah Lipman

OU Mishlei Nach Yomi

משלי י״ד:א׳

(א) חַכְמ֣וֹת נָ֭שִׁים בָּנְתָ֣ה בֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝אִוֶּ֗לֶת בְּיָדֶ֥יהָ תֶהֶרְסֶֽנּוּ׃

Proverbs 14:1

(1) The wisest of women builds her house, But a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

משלי י״ד:ג׳

(ג) בְּֽפִי־אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽם׃

Proverbs 14:3

(3) In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will protect them.

משלי י״ד:ח׳

(ח) חָכְמַ֣ת עָ֭רוּם הָבִ֣ין דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְאִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים מִרְמָֽה׃

Proverbs 14:8

(8) It is the wisdom of a clever person to understand his path; But the folly of the foolish is deceit.

משלי י״ד:ט׳

(ט) אֱ֭וִלִים יָלִ֣יץ אָשָׁ֑ם וּבֵ֖ין יְשָׁרִ֣ים רָצֽוֹן׃

Proverbs 14:9

(9) A guilt-offering may mediate for fools, but God's favor is with the upright.

משלי י״ד:י״ז-י״ח

(יז) קְֽצַר־אַ֭פַּיִם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה אִוֶּ֑לֶת וְאִ֥ישׁ מְ֝זִמּ֗וֹת יִשָּׂנֵֽא׃

(יח) נָחֲל֣וּ פְתָאיִ֣ם אִוֶּ֑לֶת וַֽ֝עֲרוּמִ֗ים יַכְתִּ֥רוּ דָֽעַת׃

Proverbs 14:17-18

(17) A short-tempered person acts foolishly; A person of evil plans will be hated.

(18) Gullible people inherit folly, but shrewd people make knowledge a crown.

משלי י״ד:כ״ד

(כד) עֲטֶ֣רֶת חֲכָמִ֣ים עָשְׁרָ֑ם אִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

Proverbs 14:24

(24) The ornament of the wise is their wealth; The stupidity of dullards is stupidity.

משלי י״ד:כ״ט

(כט) אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם רַב־תְּבוּנָ֑ה וּקְצַר־ר֝֗וּחַ מֵרִ֥ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

Proverbs 14:29

(29) Being slow to anger demonstrates much insight, but being quick-tempered brings up foolishness.

The opposite of Chachma, wisdom, in Mishlei is Ivellet, lack of wisdom, lack of knowledge. We will learn about Ivellet in Chapter 14, God Willing. So the opposite of having wisdom is "not having wisdom" -- not lack of intelligence, of IQ, of brains, but lack of knowledge, lack of information..

If there's one theme that Sefer Mishlei, Proverbs, returns to again and again, it is the unending value of wisdom and the urgency of seeking it; and the pitiable condition of people who remain unwise and foolish.
The contrast between the Chacham, the wise person, and the Foolish person is a contrast between ability of mind, yes, but also a contrast of improvement of mind. And whereas the ability of your mind is not under your control -- the scope of a person's intellect being determined by God -- how much you IMPROVE the mind you have is your choice, it's up to you.