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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, when he (A)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

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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 (A)in revealing his own [a]mind.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit 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 [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

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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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

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 (A)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (B)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 [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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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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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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 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 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 the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

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