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A wicked doer gives heed to false lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a wayward tongue.

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He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
    and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

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Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
    much less lying lips to a prince.

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Fine speech[a] is not becoming a fool,
    still less[b] is false speech[c] for a ruler.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “A lip of fineness
  2. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “only for”
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Literally “lip of deceit”

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,
    and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

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20 He who is crooked of heart[a] will not find goodness,
    and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Or “mind”

27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
    and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise;
    and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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27 He who spares his sayings knows knowledge,
    and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise;[a]
    he who closes his lips is intelligent.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:28 Literally “wise, he shall be considered”