let a wise person listen and increase learning,(A)
and let a discerning person obtain guidance—

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Let the wise listen and increase their[a] learning;
    let the person of understanding receive guidance

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:5 The Heb. lacks their

35 The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds up fools to dishonor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but he holds fools up for ridicule.

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Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;(A)
rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)
Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;
teach the righteous, and he will learn more.(C)

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Don’t rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.
    Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.
Counsel a wise man,
    and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man,
    and he will add to his learning.

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14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.(A)

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14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[a] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

29 The one who brings ruin on his household(A)
will inherit the wind,(B)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

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The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back

What a fool says brings[a] a rod to his back,
    but the words of the wise protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit. The mouth of the fool

16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil,(A)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Or and falls

16 The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

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24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

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24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

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The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.(A)

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The wise speak, presenting[a] knowledge appropriately,
    but fools spout foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:2 Lit. The tongues of the wise present

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

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What the wise have to say disseminates[a] knowledge,
    but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[a] increases learning.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips

21 The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning,
    and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.

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23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips

23 A wise person’s thoughts[a] control his words,
    and his speech promotes instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Lit. heart