13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his [¹]talk is mischievous madness.
[¹] Hebrew his mouth.
The beginnings of his reasonings are each a wise error, and the result of what he says are disappointed expectations, every one of which is mischievous.
(13.) The beginning of words (or reasonings) of his mouth, elaborate follies (סכלות in its usual sense; and the whole being without the article gives the meaning——‘Each beginning of the reasonings of his mouth is one out of a number of elaborate follies; his reasonings are themselves elaborate mistakes’), and an end (אחרית is used to signify the last end, Numbers xxiii. 10; see [chapter vii. 8]) of his mouth (repeated, ‘that same mouth’) disappointed expectations (הוללות, in its usual sense in this book) mischievous (singular, each one of which is so).
14 A fool also [¹]is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
[¹] Hebrew multiplieth words.
And the wise fool multiplies his reasons, though no man understands the present, and the future results no one can declare.