An (A)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [a]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood

A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

[a](A)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (B)lying lips to a prince.

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  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

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20 One who has a crooked [a]mind (A)finds nothing good,
And one who is [b](B)corrupted in his language falls into evil.

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  1. Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
  2. Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(A)

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27 One who (A)withholds his words [a]has knowledge,
And one who has a (B)cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (C)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

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  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows

27 The one who has knowledge restrains his words,(A)
and one who keeps a cool head[a]
is a person of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—
discerning, when he seals his lips.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 17:27 Lit spirit