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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 (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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

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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (A)in expressing his opinion.

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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 walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (A)a beating.
(B)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.

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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 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech 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 (A)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for (B)a slave to rule over princes.

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29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.

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29 Condemnation is ready for (A)scoffers,
    and (B)beating for the backs of fools.

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

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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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Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.

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

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Wisdom is (A)too high for a fool;
    in (B)the gate he does not open his mouth.

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

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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)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and (B)a rod for the back of fools.
(C)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
(D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be (E)wise in his own eyes.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and (F)drinks violence.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is (G)one who gives honor to a fool.
Like (H)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (I)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is (J)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (K)wise in his own eyes?
    (L)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby

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 is weighty,
    but (A)a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

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