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23 
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.

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23 The (A)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [a]persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (B)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (C)healing to the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or learning

27 
A worthless man devises and digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire.

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27 A (A)worthless person digs up evil,
While [a]his words are like (B)scorching fire.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips


Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.(A)

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One who mocks the (A)poor taunts his Maker;
One who (B)rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.

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Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.

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[a](A)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (B)lying lips to a prince.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance


He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.

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One who (A)conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter (B)separates close friends.

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27 
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).(A)
28 
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.

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27 One who (A)withholds his words [a]has knowledge,
And one who has a (B)cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (C)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows


The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

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The words of a person’s mouth are (A)deep waters;
[a]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom

13 
He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him.(A)

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13 One who (A)gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.

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17 
The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.

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17 The first [a]to plead his case seems right,
Until [b]another comes and examines him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
  2. Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor

20 
A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
21 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.(A)

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20 With the [a](A)fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(B)He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 (C)Death and life are in the [b]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its (D)fruit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:20 I.e., speech
  2. Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand


It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],
But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].

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(A)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [a]quarrel.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out


It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],
But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].

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(A)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [a]quarrel.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out

11 
He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.

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11 One who loves (A)purity of heart
And [a]whose speech is (B)gracious, the king is his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips