Font Size
Proverbs 17:28
New English Translation
Proverbs 17:28
New English Translation
28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered[a] wise,
and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:28 tn The imperfect tense here denotes possibility: One who holds his tongue [may be considered] discerning.
- Proverbs 17:28 tn The Niphal participle is used in the declarative/estimative sense with stative verbs: “to be discerning” (Qal) becomes “to be declared discerning” (Niphal). The proverb is teaching that silence is one evidence of wisdom, and that even a fool can thereby appear wise. D. Kidner says that a fool who takes this advice is no longer a complete fool (Proverbs [TOTC], 127). He does not, of course, become wise—he just hides his folly.
Proverbs 17:28
International Standard Version
Proverbs 17:28
International Standard Version
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.
Proverbs 17:28
New International Version
Proverbs 17:28
New International Version
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(A)
Proverbs 18:2
New English Translation
Proverbs 18:2
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:2 sn This expression forms an understatement (tapeinosis); the opposite is the point—he detests understanding or discernment.
- Proverbs 18:2 tn The Hitpael infinitive construct בְּהִתְגַּלּוֹת (behitgallot) functions nominally as the object of the preposition. The term means “reveal, uncover, betray.” So the fool takes pleasure “in uncovering” his heart.
- Proverbs 18:2 tn Heb “his heart.” This is a metonymy meaning “what is on his mind” (cf. NAB “displaying what he thinks”; NRSV “expressing personal opinion”). This kind of person is in love with his own ideas and enjoys spewing them out (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 515). It is the kind of person who would ask a question, not to learn, but to show everyone how clever he is (cf. TEV).
Proverbs 18:2
International Standard Version
Proverbs 18:2
International Standard Version
2 A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
for he would rather express his own opinion.
Proverbs 18:2
New International Version
Proverbs 18:2
New International Version
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)
Proverbs 18:6-7
New English Translation
Proverbs 18:6-7
New English Translation
6 The lips of a fool[a] enter into strife,[b]
and his mouth invites[c] a flogging.[d]
7 The mouth of a fool is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare for his life.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:6 sn The “lips” is a metonymy of cause, meaning what the fool says. The “mouth” in the second colon is likewise a metonymy for speech, what comes out of the mouth.
- Proverbs 18:6 sn “Strife” is a metonymy of cause, it is the cause of the beating or flogging that follows; “flogging” in the second colon is a metonymy of effect, the flogging is the effect of the strife. The two together give the whole picture.
- Proverbs 18:6 tn Heb “calls for.” This is personification: What the fool says “calls for” a beating or flogging. The fool deserves punishment, but does not actually request it.
- Proverbs 18:6 tn Heb “blows.” This would probably be physical beatings, either administered by the father or by society (e.g., also 19:25; Ps 141:5; cf. NAB, NIV, TEV, NLT). Today, however, “a beating” could be associated with violent criminal assault, whereas the context suggests punishment. Therefore “a flogging” is used in the translation, since that term is normally associated with disciplinary action.
- Proverbs 18:7 tn Heb “his soul” (so KJV, NASB, NIV).sn What a fool says can ruin him. Calamity and misfortune can come to a person who makes known his lack of wisdom by what he says. It may be that his words incite anger, or merely reveal stupidity; in either case, he is in trouble.
Proverbs 18:6-7
International Standard Version
Proverbs 18:6-7
International Standard Version
6 A fool’s words[a] bring strife,
and his mouth invites fighting.
7 A fool’s mouth is his unraveling,
and his lips entrap himself.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:6 Lit. lips
Proverbs 18:6-7
New International Version
Proverbs 18:6-7
New International Version
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(A)
Proverbs 19:1
New English Translation
Proverbs 19:1
New English Translation
19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity[a]
than one who is perverse in his speech[b] and is a fool.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:1 sn People should follow honesty even if it leads to poverty (e.g., Prov 18:23; 19:22).
- Proverbs 19:1 tn Heb “lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy for what one says with his lips. The expression “perverse in his lips” refers to speech that is morally perverted. Some medieval Hebrew mss, the Syriac, and Tg. Prov 19:1 have “his ways” rather than “his lips” (e.g., Prov 28:6); cf. NAB.
- Proverbs 19:1 tc The Syriac and Tg. Prov 19:1 read “rich” instead of MT “fool.” This makes tighter antithetical parallelism than MT and is followed by NAB. However, the MT makes sense as it stands; this is an example of metonymical parallelism. The MT reading is also supported by the LXX. The Hebrew construction uses וְהוּא (vehuʾ), “and he [is],” before “fool.” This may be rendered “one who is perverse while a fool” or “a fool at the same time.”
Proverbs 19:1
International Standard Version
Proverbs 19:1
International Standard Version
The Priorities of Life Contrasted
19 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.
Proverbs 19:1
New International Version
Proverbs 19:1
New International Version
19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)
Proverbs 19:10
New English Translation
Proverbs 19:10
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:10 tn The form נָאוֶה (naʾveh) is an adjective meaning “seemly; comely” in the older English versions like KJV, ASV, “fitting” in more recent ones (e.g., NASB, NIV, NRSV). The verbal root נוֹה (noh) only occurs in the Pilel stem, but it also has the basic meaning of “being fitting; being comely.” In this sentence the form is a predicate adjective.
- Proverbs 19:10 sn The verse is simply observing two things that are misfits. It is not concerned with a fool who changes and can handle wealth, or a servant who changes to become a nobleman. It is focused on things that are incongruous.
- Proverbs 19:10 sn In the ancient world the prince would be trained for his rule (hence, one of the original purposes of Proverbs). A slave ruling over princes would be arrogant and cruel, or foolish and unwise. For other unbearable things, e.g., 11:22; 17:7; 26:1; 30:21-23.
Proverbs 19:10
International Standard Version
Proverbs 19:10
International Standard Version
10 It’s not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;
neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.
Proverbs 19:10
New International Version
Proverbs 19:10
New International Version
Proverbs 19:29
New English Translation
Proverbs 19:29
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:29 tc The MT reads שְׁפָטִים (shefatim from שֶׁפֶט, shephet), meaning “penalties; judgments.” The text might be מִשְׁפָּטִים (mishpatim) restoring a mem lost by haplography (the previous word ends with mem), and meaning “judicial decisions” (by extension “penalties”). The LXX reads “scourges,” a gloss it uses for שׁוֹטִים (shotim; cf. Prov 26:3), while some propose emending to שְׁבָטִים (shevatim) “rods” (cf. 23:14). Rods might be the instrument of the flogging mentioned in the second half of the verse, but any of the proposals conforms to the convention of parallelism. The main choice is between the MT as it stands and the LXX.
- Proverbs 19:29 tn The verb is a Niphal perfect of כוּן (kun) and may be past, as in “have been prepared,” or focused on the resulting state, as in “are ready.”
Proverbs 19:29
International Standard Version
Proverbs 19:29
International Standard Version
29 Condemnation is appropriate for mockers,
just as beatings are for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 19:29
New International Version
Proverbs 19:29
New International Version
29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)
Proverbs 20:3
New English Translation
Proverbs 20:3
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:3 tn Heb “man.”
- Proverbs 20:3 tn Heb “cessation” (שֶׁבֶת, shevet); NAB “to shun strife”; NRSV “refrain from strife.”sn One cannot avoid conflict altogether, but the proverb is instructing that at the first sign of conflict the honorable thing to do is to find a way to end it.
- Proverbs 20:3 tn Heb “breaks out.” The Hitpael of the verb גָּלַע (galaʿ, “to expose; to lay bare”) means “to break out; to disclose oneself,” and so the idea of flaring up in a quarrel is clear. But there are also cognate connections to the idea of “showing the teeth; snarling” and so quarreling viciously.
Proverbs 20:3
International Standard Version
Proverbs 20:3
International Standard Version
3 Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
but every fool is quarrelsome.
Proverbs 20:3
New International Version
Proverbs 20:3
New International Version
Proverbs 23:9
New English Translation
Proverbs 23:9
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:9 sn The mention of “the ears” emphasizes the concerted effort to get the person’s undivided attention. However, a fool rejects instruction and discipline.
- Proverbs 23:9 sn Saying number nine indicates that wisdom is wasted on a fool. The literature of Egypt has no specific parallel to this one.
Proverbs 23:9
International Standard Version
Proverbs 23:9
International Standard Version
9 Don’t speak when a fool is listening,
because he’ll despise your wise words.
Proverbs 23:9
New International Version
Proverbs 23:9
New International Version
Saying 10
9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.(A)
Proverbs 24:7
New English Translation
Proverbs 24:7
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:7 tc The MT reads רָאמוֹת (raʾmot, “corals”)—wisdom to the fool is corals, i.e., an unattainable treasure. With a slight change in the text, removing the א (ʾalef), the reading is רָמוֹת (ramot, “high”), i.e., wisdom is too high—unattainable—for a fool. The internal evidence favors the emendation, which is followed by most English versions including KJV.
- Proverbs 24:7 tn Heb “[city] gate,” a metonymy of subject, meaning what goes on in the gate—court cases and business transactions. So it is in these assemblies that the fool keeps quiet. The term “court” has been used in the translation for clarity. Some English versions do not emphasize the forensic connotation here: NCV “in a discussion”; NLT “When the leaders gather.”
- Proverbs 24:7 sn The verse portrays a fool out of his element: In a serious moment in the gathering of the community, he does not even open his mouth (a metonymy of cause, meaning “speak”). Wisdom is too high for the fool—it is beyond his ability.
Proverbs 24:7
International Standard Version
Proverbs 24:7
International Standard Version
7 Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool;
he has nothing to say in court.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:7 Lit. in the gate
Proverbs 24:7
New International Version
Proverbs 24:7
New International Version
Saying 23
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.