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

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28 Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise;
    those who shut their lips are smart.

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A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (A)in revealing his own [a]mind.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart

Fools find no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing their opinion.

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A fool’s lips [a]bring strife,
And his mouth invites (A)beatings.
A (B)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with

The lips of fools make accusations;
    their mouths elicit beatings.
The mouth of fools is their ruin;
    their lips are a trap for their lives.

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On Life and Conduct

19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
Than a person who is perverse in [a]speech and is a fool.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:1 Lit his lips

19 Better to be poor and walk in innocence
    than to have dishonest lips and be 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 isn’t fitting for a fool;
    even less so for a servant to rule over princes.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:29 LXX Rods

29 Punishments were made for mockers,
    and blows for the backs of fools.

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(A)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [a]quarrel.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out

It is honorable to back off from a fight,
    but fools jump right in.

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(A)Do not speak [a]to be heard by a fool,
For he will (B)despise the wisdom of your words.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:9 Lit in the ears of a

Don’t speak in the ears of fools,
    for they will scorn your insightful words.

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

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Wisdom is beyond foolish people.
    They don’t open their mouths in the gate.

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Similitudes and Instructions

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

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26 Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest,
    so honor isn’t appropriate 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 [a]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
(D)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (E)wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like [b]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like [c]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that [d]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [e]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (F)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (G)repeats [f]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (H)wise in his own eyes?
(I)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
  2. Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
  3. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  4. Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
  5. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  6. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his

A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools.
Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
    or you will become like them yourself.
Answer fools according to their folly,
    or they will deem themselves wise.
Sending messages with a fool
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking down violence.
As legs dangle from a disabled person,
    so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like tying a stone in a sling,
    so is giving respect to a fool.
Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk,
    so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly,
    so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
    so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
12 Do you see people who consider themselves wise?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.

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

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A stone is heavy and sand weighs much,
    but the nuisance of fools is heavier than both.

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