The Sage and the Fool

A fool does not listen to learn;
He listens to catch, trick and ridicule the sage.

The sage seeks not to honor himself, but to help others,
Thereby he receives great honor from others.

The fool seeks to exalt himself by belittling others,
Thereby he receives great honor from himself only.

The fool is proud of his own knowledge,
but the sage seeks ever to increase his.

Whence comes words that bite and slash and hurt?
They come from the mouth of a fool.

The fool says, “Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!”
The sage says, “Look at God! Look at God! Look at God!”

The fool talks incessantly about himself.
The sage talks about Wisdom.

The fool uses himself as the standard for truth.
The sage hides his face in shame before God.

A sage falls into his sin repeatedly,
but each time he rises up and tries again.

A fool revels and delights in his sin;
He calls to others, “Look at me! I am clever!”

Do not keep company with a fool;
do not share his attitude,
lest you become a fool yourself.