a wise man will listen and increase his learning,(A)
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

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let the wise listen and add to their learning,(A)
    and let the discerning get guidance—

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35 The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;(A)
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.(B)
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.(C)

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Do not rebuke mockers(A) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.(B)
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(C)

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14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.(A)

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14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

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29 The one who brings ruin on his household(A)
will inherit the wind,(B)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(A)

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The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(A)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(B)

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16 A wise man is cautious and turns from evil,(A)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or and falls

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

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24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

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24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(A)

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The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.(A)

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The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(B)

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The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[a] increases learning.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(A)
    and their lips promote instruction.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive