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 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(A)

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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 delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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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 bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

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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 the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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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 is not fitting for a fool(A) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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

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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 to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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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

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(A)

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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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Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

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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 summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting 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 [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 the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(A)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(B)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(C)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(D)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(E)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(G)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(I)
    so fools repeat their folly.(J)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(K)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(L)

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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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Stone is heavy and sand(A) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

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