Add parallel Print Page Options

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood

Excess speech is not becoming to a fool;
    still less is false speech to a ruler.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 17.7 Or a noble

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance

20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
    and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(A)

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
    one who is cool in spirit has understanding.(A)
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
    when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(B)

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows