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23 The (A)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
24 (B)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (C)healing to the bones.

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23 A wise heart produces edifying speech.
It makes a person’s lips more persuasive.
24 Pleasant speech is honey from a honeycomb,
sweet to the spirit and healing for the bones.

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27 A (A)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like (B)scorching fire.

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27 A worthless scoundrel constantly plots evil,
and from his lips comes a scorching fire.

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He who mocks the (A)poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is (B)glad at disaster will not go unpunished.

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Whoever mocks a poor person insults his Maker.
A person who rejoices over calamity will not escape.

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(A)Excellent lips are not fitting for a [a]wicked fool,
Even less are (B)lying lips for a noble man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 One who rejects wisdom in rebellion against God

Introduction to Fools and Foolishness:
The Consequences of Being a Fool

Eloquent lips are[a] not fitting for a fool.
How much less lying lips for a ruler!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Or excessive chatter is

He who (A)covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter (B)separates close companions.

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A person who covers an offense pursues love,
but one who repeats the matter separates friends.

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27 He who (A)holds back his words [a]has knowledge,
And he who has a (B)cool spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Even an ignorant fool, when he (C)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows

27 A person with knowledge restrains his words.
A person with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a stubborn fool who keeps silent will be considered wise.
He is considered to be perceptive if he keeps his lips shut.

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

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Footnotes

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

The words from a man’s mouth are deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.

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13 He who (A)responds with a word before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.

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13 If a person answers before he listens,
that is foolishness that brings disgrace.

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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

17 The first person to state his case appears to be right.
Then his neighbor comes and cross-examines him.

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20 From the [a](A)fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(B)With the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.
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 Speech
  2. Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand

20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach is satisfied.
He is satisfied with the harvest of his lips.
21 Life and death lie in the power of a tongue,
and those who love to use it will eat its fruit.

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It is a glory for a man to (A)cease quarreling,
But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.

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Avoiding strife brings honor to a man,
but every stubborn fool is always fighting.

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It is a glory for a man to (A)cease quarreling,
But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.

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Avoiding strife brings honor to a man,
but every stubborn fool is always fighting.

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11 He who loves (A)purity of heart
And (B)grace on his lips, the king is his friend.

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11 A person who loves a pure heart and whose lips are gracious
    will have a king as his friend.

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