28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—
discerning, when he seals his lips.(A)

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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”

A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Or “mind”

A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.(A)

A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.(B)

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The lips of a fool will bring strife,
    and his mouth calls out for a flogging.
The mouth of a fool is ruin to him,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:7 Or “life,” or “inner self”

19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

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19 Better a poor person walking in integrity
    than one who is perverse in his speech[a] and is a fool.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:1 Literally “in his lips”

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool(A)
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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10 For a fool living in luxury is not fitting,
    any more than it is for a slave to rule over princes.

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29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)

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29 Judgments[a] are prepared for the scoffers,
    and flogging for the back of fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:29 Or “Punishments,” or “Condemnations”

Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,(A)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(B)

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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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Don’t speak to[a] a fool,
for he will despise the insight of your words.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 23:9 Lit in the ears of

In the ears of a fool do not speak,
    for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

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Wisdom is inaccessible to[a] a fool;(A)
he does not open his mouth at the city gate.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 24:7 Lit is too high for

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    at the gate he will not open his mouth.

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26 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,(A)
honor is inappropriate for a fool.(B)

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26 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.

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A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(A)
and a rod for the backs of fools.(B)
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness(C)
or you’ll be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness(D)
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.(E)
The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand(F)
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.(G)
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
Giving honor to a fool
is like binding a stone in a sling.
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by[a] the hand of a drunkard.
10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by
is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so also a fool repeats his foolishness.(H)
12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?(I)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly
    lest you become like him—even you.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
    so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like binding a stone in a sling,
    so is giving honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
    so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
11 Like a dog returning to his vomit
    is a fool reverting to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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A stone is heavy, and sand a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

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Heavy is a stone and weighty is sand,
    but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

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