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He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
    and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

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A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Fine speech[a] is not becoming a fool,
    still less[b] is false speech[c] for a ruler.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “A lip of fineness
  2. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “only for”
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “lip of deceit”

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

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20 He who is crooked of heart[a] will not find goodness,
    and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Or “mind”

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

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27 He who spares his sayings knows knowledge,
    and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise;[a]
    he who closes his lips is intelligent.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:28 Literally “wise, he shall be considered”

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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