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28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
    When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

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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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A fool has no delight in understanding,
    but only in revealing his own opinion.

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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. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

A fool’s lips come into strife,
    and his mouth invites beatings.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.

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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 is the poor who walks in his integrity
    than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

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

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10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool,
    much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

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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 scoffers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.

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

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It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

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Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,(A)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(B)

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Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,
    for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

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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. 23:9 Lit in the ears of

Wisdom is too high for a fool.
    He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

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

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Footnotes

  1. 24:7 Lit is too high for

26 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
    so honor is not fitting for a fool.

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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 is for the horse,
    a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the back of fools!
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest you also be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
    is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,
    so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As one who binds a stone in a sling,
    so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
    so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 As an archer who wounds all,
    so is he who hires a fool
    or he who hires those who pass by.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit,
    so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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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 proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by[a] 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 indiscriminately.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so also a fool repeats his foolishness.(H)
12 Do you see a person 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. 26:9 Lit thorn that goes up into

A stone is heavy,
    and sand is 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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