12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a person with understanding keeps silent.(A)

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12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but the discerning man controls his comments.

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12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(A)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(B)

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18 There is one who speaks rashly,
like a piercing sword;(A)
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(B)

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18 Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword,
    but what the wise say promotes healing.

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18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(A)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(B)

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The tongue that heals is a tree of life,(A)
but a devious tongue[a] breaks the spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:4 Lit but crookedness in it

A gentle statement[a] is a tree of life,
    but perverted speech shatters the spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Lit. tongue

The soothing tongue(A) is a tree of life,(B)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(C)

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27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(A)

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27 A worthless person concocts evil gossip[a]
    his lips are like a burning fire.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 The Heb. lacks gossip

27 A scoundrel(A) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(B)

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23 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

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23 The north wind brings rain,
    and a backbiting tongue an angry look.

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23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,(A)
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(B)

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Like a fluttering sparrow
    or a swallow in flight,
        a curse without cause will not alight.

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Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(A)

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