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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”

Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;
    how much more are deceitful statements[a] with a prince!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:7 Lit. lips

10 A rebuke strikes him who understands
    deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.

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10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.

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12 May a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring
    and not a fool in his folly.

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12 It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs
    than a fool in his stupidity.

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16 Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool,
    in order to buy wisdom where[a] there is no sense.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:16 Hebrew “and”
  2. Proverbs 17:16 Literally “heart”

16 What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom,
    but is senseless?[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:16 Lit. but has no heart

24 He who understands sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.[a]
25 A grief to his father is the child of a fool,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 Or “land”

24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only[a] to earthly goals.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to his mother.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only
  2. Proverbs 17:25 Lit. to the one who bore him

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”

28 Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;
    he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

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