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28 Even an ignorant fool, when he (A)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.

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

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A fool does not delight in discernment,
But only (A)in revealing his own heart.

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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’s lips come with strife,
And his mouth calls for (A)beatings.
A (B)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

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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 Counsel of Yahweh Will Stand

19 (A)Better is a poor man who (B)walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked in lips and is a fool.

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

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10 Luxury is (A)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (B)slave to rule over princes.

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

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29 [a]Judgments are established for (A)scoffers,
And (B)beatings for the back of fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:29 Gr Rods

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

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

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(A)Do not speak in the [a]hearing of a fool,
For he will (B)despise the insight of your speech.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:9 Lit ears

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

Wisdom is (A)too exalted for an ignorant fool,
He does not open his mouth (B)in the gate.

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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

26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So glory is not (B)fitting for a fool.

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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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A (A)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (B)rod for the back of fools.
(C)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you yourself also be like him.
(D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be (E)wise in his own eyes.
He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends words by the hand of a fool.
Like the legs which hang limp on the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like [a]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives glory to a fool.
Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [b]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like (F)a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who (G)repeats [c]his folly.
12 Do you see a man (H)wise in his own eyes?
(I)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  2. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But he who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  3. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his

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 stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of an ignorant fool is heavier than both of them.

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

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