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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 fools who keep silent are considered wise;
    when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(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 takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing personal opinion.(A)

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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 bring strife,
    and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
The mouths of fools are their ruin,
    and their lips a snare to themselves.(A)

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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 the poor walking in integrity
    than one perverse of speech who is a fool.(A)

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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 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for a slave to rule over princes.(A)

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

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29 Punishments are prepared for scoffers
    and flogging 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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It is honorable to refrain from strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.(A)

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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,
    who will only despise the wisdom of your words.(A)

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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 too high for fools;
    in the gate they do not open their mouths.(A)

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

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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,
    and a rod for the back of fools.(A)
Do not answer fools according to their folly,
    lest you be a fool yourself.(B)
Answer fools according to their folly,
    lest they be wise in their own eyes.(C)
It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,
    to send a message by a fool.
The legs of a lame person hang limp;
    so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(D)
It is like binding a stone in a sling
    to give honor to a fool.(E)
Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
    is a fool who reverts to his folly.(G)
12 Do you see people wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for fools than for them.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 26.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain

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 fool’s provocation is heavier than both.(A)

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