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23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
    and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

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23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;
    the words of the wise are persuasive.

24 Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

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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 worthless man devises mischief.
    His speech is like a scorching fire.

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27 Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

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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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Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
    He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

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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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Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,
    much less do lying lips fit a prince.

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Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;
    even less are lies fitting 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 covers an offense promotes love;
    but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

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Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
    but dwelling on it separates close friends.

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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 spares his words has knowledge.
    He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
    When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

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27 A truly wise person uses few words;
    a person with understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

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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 like deep waters.
    The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

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Wise words are like deep waters;
    wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

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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 answers before he hears,
    that is folly and shame to him.

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13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
    is both shameful and foolish.

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

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17 He who pleads his cause first seems right;
    until another comes and questions him.

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17 The first to speak in court sounds right—
    until the cross-examination begins.

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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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