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23 The (A)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
24 (B)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (C)healing to the bones.

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23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.[a](A)

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:(B)
sweet to the taste[b] and health to the body.[c](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips
  2. 16:24 Lit throat
  3. 16:24 Lit bones

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

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(C)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(D)

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Footnotes

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

27 A (A)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like (B)scorching fire.

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

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He who mocks the (A)poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is (B)glad at disaster will not go unpunished.

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The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,(A)
and one who rejoices over calamity
will not go unpunished.(B)

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Whoever mocks the poor(A) shows contempt for their Maker;(B)
    whoever gloats over disaster(C) will not go unpunished.(D)

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(A)Excellent lips are not fitting for a [a]wicked fool,
Even less are (B)lying lips for a noble man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 One who rejects wisdom in rebellion against God

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

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Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)

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He who (A)covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter (B)separates close companions.

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Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(B)

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27 He who (A)holds back his words [a]has knowledge,
And he who has a (B)cool spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Even an ignorant fool, when he (C)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows

27 The one who has knowledge restrains his words,(A)
and one who keeps a cool head[a]
is a person of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—
discerning, when he seals his lips.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 17:27 Lit spirit

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(A)
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(B)

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(C)

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The words of a man’s mouth are (A)deep waters;
[a]The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom

The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,(A)
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 18:4 Or waters; a fountain of wisdom is a flowing river

The words of the mouth are deep waters,(A)
    but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

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13 He who (A)responds with a word before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.

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13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.(A)

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13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.(A)

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17 The first [a]to plead his case seems right,
Until [b]another comes and examines him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
  2. Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor

17 The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.(A)

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17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
    until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

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