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23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
    and adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

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23 The heart[a] of the wise will make his mouth judicious,
    and upon his lips, it[b] will add persuasiveness.
24 Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 16:23 Or “he”

27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
    and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

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27 A man of wickedness concocts evil,
    and his lips are like a scorching fire.

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Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker,
    and he who is glad at calamities will not be unpunished.

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He who mocks the poor insults him who made him;
    he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

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Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
    much less lying lips to a prince.

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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”

He who covers a transgression seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates friends.

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He who forgives an affront fosters love,
    but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.

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27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
    and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise;
    and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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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”

The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters,
    and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

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Deep waters are words of the mouth of a man;
    a gushing stream is a fountain of wisdom.

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13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
    it is folly and shame to him.

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13 He who returns a word before he will hear,
    folly itself belongs to him as well as[a] shame.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:13 Hebrew “and”

17 He who is first in his own cause seems just,
    but his neighbor comes and searches him.

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17 The first in his dispute is deemed righteous,
    but his neighbor will come and examine him.

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20 A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
    and with the increase of his lips will he be filled.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.

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20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach will be satisfied,
    as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.
21 Death and life are in the power[a] of the tongue,
    and those who love her[b] will eat of her fruit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:21 Literally “hand”
  2. Proverbs 18:21 That is, the power of the tongue

It is an honor for a man to cease from strife,
    but every fool will be meddling.

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It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
    but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

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It is an honor for a man to cease from strife,
    but every fool will be meddling.

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It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
    but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

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11 He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips
    the king will be his friend.

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11 He who loves purity of heart
    and hasgracious speech,[a] his friend is the king.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Literally “grace of his lips”