Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
(A)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    (B)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction[a] to a wise man, and he will be (C)still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will (D)increase in learning.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:9 Hebrew lacks instruction

Wise advice

Whoever instructs the cynic gets insulted;
    whoever corrects the wicked gets hurt.
Don’t correct the impudent, or they will hate you;
    correct the wise, and they will love you.
Teach the wise, and they will become wiser;
    inform the righteous, and their learning will increase.

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Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(A)
Do not rebuke mockers(B) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.(C)
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(D)

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10 Whoever (A)winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 (B)The mouth of the righteous is (C)a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked (D)conceals violence.

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10 Those who wink an eye bring trouble;
    those who speak foolishly are ruined.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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10 Whoever winks maliciously(A) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(B)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(C)

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13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but (A)a rod is for the back of him who (B)lacks sense.
14 The wise (C)lay up knowledge,
    but (D)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 Wisdom is found on the lips of those who have understanding,
    but there is a rod for the back of those with no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings on ruin.

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13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(A)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(B)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(D)

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13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but (A)a rod is for the back of him who (B)lacks sense.
14 The wise (C)lay up knowledge,
    but (D)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 Wisdom is found on the lips of those who have understanding,
    but there is a rod for the back of those with no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings on ruin.

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13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(A)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(B)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(D)

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13 Whoever (A)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

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13 A slanderer walks around revealing secrets,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

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13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(A)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(B)

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13 An evil man is ensnared (A)by the transgression of his lips,[a]
    (B)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth (C)a man is satisfied with good,
    (D)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare

13 The wicked are trapped by the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.
14 From the fruit of their speech, people are well satisfied;
    their work results in reward.

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13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(A)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(B)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(C)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(D)

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16 (A)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 (B)Whoever speaks[a] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but (C)a false witness utters deceit.
18 (D)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings (E)healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but (F)a lying tongue is but for a moment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:17 Hebrew breathes out

16 Fools reveal their anger right away,
    but the shrewd hide their contempt.
17 Those who state the truth speak justly,
    but a false witness deceives.
18 Some chatter on like a stabbing sword,
    but a wise tongue heals.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment.

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16 Fools(A) show their annoyance at once,(B)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(C)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(D)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(E)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(F)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

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22 (A)Lying lips are (B)an abomination to the Lord,
    (C)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 (D)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    (E)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

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22 The Lord detests false lips;
    he favors those who do what is true.
23 The shrewd conceal their knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims their stupidity.

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22 The Lord detests lying lips,(A)
    but he delights(B) in people who are trustworthy.(C)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(D)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(E)

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25 (A)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.

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25 Anxiety leads to depression,
    but a good word encourages.

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25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(A)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

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