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

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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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Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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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. Proverbs 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

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

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

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

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

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

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It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,(A)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(B)

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Saying 10

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

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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. Proverbs 23:9 Lit in the ears of

Saying 23

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:7 Lit is too high for

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

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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 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 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]
A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by[b] 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.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.(H)
12 Do you see a man 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. Proverbs 26:8 A stone bound in a sling would not release and could harm the person using the sling. A modern equivalent is jamming a cork in a gun barrel.
  2. Proverbs 26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into

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

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

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