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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 thought to be wise when he remains silent;
    he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

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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 finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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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 words[a] bring strife,
    and his mouth invites fighting.
A fool’s mouth is his unraveling,
    and his lips entrap himself.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit. lips

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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The Priorities of Life Contrasted

19 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.

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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 It’s not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;
    neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

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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 Condemnation is appropriate for mockers,
    just as beatings are for the backs of fools.

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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 a man honor,
    but every fool is quarrelsome.

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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 when a fool is listening,
    because he’ll despise your wise words.

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

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Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool;
    he has nothing to say in court.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:7 Lit. in the gate

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

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On Fools

26 Like snowfall in summer or rain at harvest time,
so honor is inappropriate for a fool.

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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 is for the horses,
    a bridle is for the donkey,
        a rod is for the back of fools.
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness,
    or you will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness,
    or he will think himself to be wise.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own[a] feet and drinks violence.
Useless legs to the lame—
    that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
Tying a stone to a sling—
    that’s what giving honor to a fool is.
A thorn in the hand of a drunkard—
    that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
10 An archer who shoots at anyone—
    is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.
11 A dog that returns to its vomit
    is like a fool who reverts to his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion?
    There’s more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:6 The Heb. lacks his own

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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Rocks are heavy,
    and sand is weighty,
        but a fool’s provocation outweighs them both.

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