28 Even a fool (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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28 Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;
    he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

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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 (A)in expressing his opinion.

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A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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

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A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (A)a beating.
(B)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.

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A fool’s words[a] bring strife,
    and his mouth invites fighting.
A fool’s mouth is his unraveling,
    and his lips entrap himself.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit. lips

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 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

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The Priorities of Life Contrasted

19 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.

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

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10 It’s not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;
    neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

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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 Condemnation is ready for (A)scoffers,
    and (B)beating for the backs of fools.

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29 Condemnation is appropriate for mockers,
    just as beatings are for the backs of fools.

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

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It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

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Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
    but every fool is quarrelsome.

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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,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.

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Don’t speak when a fool is listening,
    because he’ll despise your wise words.

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Saying 10

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

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Wisdom is (A)too high for a fool;
    in (B)the gate he does not open his mouth.

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Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool;
    he has nothing to say in court.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:7 Lit. in the gate

Saying 23

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

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