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

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

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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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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 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

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

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

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

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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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Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
    but every fool is quarrelsome.

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

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

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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 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 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

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

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

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