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The wise person[a] accepts instructions,[b]
but the one who speaks foolishness[c] will come to ruin.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 tn Heb “the wise of mind.” The noun לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) functions as a genitive of specification: “wise in the mind” or “wise-minded.” Cf. “wise hearted” NASB, ESV, NRSV; “wise in heart” KJV, NIV. The term לֵב (lev) represents the person in this case (a synecdoche of part for the whole) because it is the seat of thinking and wisdom.
  2. Proverbs 10:8 tn Heb “commandments.”
  3. Proverbs 10:8 tn Heb “fool of lips.” The phrase is a genitive of specification: “a fool in respect to lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause (= lips) for effect (= speech). This person talks foolishness; he is too busy talking to pay attention to instruction.
  4. Proverbs 10:8 tn The Niphal verb לָבַט (lavat) means “to be thrust down [or, away]”; that is, “to be ruined; to fall” or “to stumble” (e.g., Hos 4:14). The fool who refuses to listen to advice—but abides by his own standards which he freely expresses—will suffer the predicaments that he creates.

A wise heart accepts commands,(A)
but foolish lips will be destroyed.

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23 Carrying out a wicked scheme[a] is enjoyable[b] to a fool,
and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “doing a plan.” The noun זִמָּה (zimmah, “plan”) is often used pejoratively of a scheme to do wickedness. It is used elsewhere for planning lewdness, murder, incest, adultery, idolatry, and licentiousness. Any planned gross impropriety gives the fool pleasure. The verb עָשָׂה (ʿasah, “to do”) here means “to carry out (a plan)” (BDB 794 s.v.).
  2. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “like sport” (so NASB, NRSV). The noun שְׂחוֹק (sekhoq, “sport”) is used elsewhere to refer to what is exhilarating and pleasurable (BDB 966 s.v.). As W. G. Plaut says, it is like child’s play (Proverbs, 132). For the fool evil brings such enjoyment; for the discerning wisdom does.
  3. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “a man of discernment.”

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,(A)
so wisdom is for a person of understanding.

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