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28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
    when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(A)

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

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

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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing personal opinion.(A)

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A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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A fool’s lips bring strife,
    and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
The mouths of fools are their ruin,
    and their lips a snare to themselves.(A)

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A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.(A)

A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.(B)

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

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19 Better the poor walking in integrity
    than one perverse of speech who is a fool.(A)

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19 Better a poor man who lives with integrity(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for a slave to rule over princes.(A)

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10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool(A)
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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10 It is not fitting for a fool(A) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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29 Punishments are prepared for scoffers
    and flogging for the backs of fools.(A)

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29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)

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29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)

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It is honorable to refrain from strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.(A)

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It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,(A)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(B)

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    who will only despise the wisdom of your words.(A)

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Don’t speak to[a] a fool,
for he will despise the insight of your words.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:9 Lit in the ears of

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(A)

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Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the gate they do not open their mouths.(A)

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Wisdom is inaccessible to[a] a fool;(A)
he does not open his mouth at the gate.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:7 Lit is too high for

Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

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