Introduction: Last Sunday we looked at how…

We need to remember that a fool is someone who fails to realize the _______________ of a stupid act before it occurs.

I. The Fool is quick to ___________ – v. 11

11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. If you try and approach a snake that has not been charmed, you are going to get ________. Well, this verse tells us that the “babbler is no different.” If the fool “babbler” is not charmed, they are going to bite you.

II. The Fool speaks his __________ – v. 12-13 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are “_____________.”

Proverbs 25:11 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

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III. The Fool thinks he knows ________________ – v. 14

14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

Fools don’t just add to a conversation. No, they ________ words. The fool probably talks just to hear themselves talking.

Fools often make dogmatic statements about the ________.

“No man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be after him?”

Wise people know the value of _______. We do not need to be experts in everything! It’s okay to say, “I don’t know the answer to that question.”

IV. The Fool sees no value in ________ – v. 15

15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

The New Living Translation renders this verse like this, Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home.

The second-half of this verse is very _______. I think it actually tells us why the fool doesn’t value work. We read, For they do not even know how to go to the city.

V. The fool displays Irresponsible _______ – v. 16-17

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in

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the morning! 17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time-- For strength and not for drunkenness!

See the words “Woe to you,”? Other translations render these words as:

Can you imagine being led by an _________ child king? Verse 17, tells us the type of leadership we should all desire to have. We read, Blessed are you, O Land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes feast at the proper time –

This is the type of leadership we should _______.

In your Bible and want you to underline the words, “For strength and not for drunkenness!”

VI. The Fool is extremely _________ – v. 18

18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

We are told that the fool is so lazy that his home decays. “O well, says the fool. It’s just a building.” He puts nothing into the ______ and care of his home. And because the “idleness” of the fool his roof leaks.

Proverbs 24:30-34 - The Lazy Man Parable

_________ and idleness is how one can spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R.

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VII. The Fool is totally ________-ABSORBED – v. 19

19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

The Fool is indifferent and materialistic as a person. For the fool life is about three things only. They are:

The fool is all about self-gratification. Whether it is in eating, drinking, or spending. Pleasure is the total outlook for the fool.

Some people are under the impression “But money answers everything.” It’s NOT ________.

VIII. The Fool speaks bad about _____________ – v. 20

20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Have you ever heard the following two statements?

Some people think aloud in their _________. Have you heard the statement that: Walls have ears?

Fools don’t care who they curse.

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Conclusion: Okay, so we have learned about the Eight Characteristics of a Fool? What does this do for the ______________?

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