Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;(A)
but a person of understanding draws it out.

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The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
    but the intelligent will draw them out.(A)

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18 Finalize plans with counsel,(A)
and wage war with sound guidance.(B)

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18 Plans are established by taking advice;
    wage war by following wise guidance.(A)

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Don’t speak to[a] a fool,
for he will despise the insight of your words.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 23:9 Lit in the ears of

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    who will only despise the wisdom of your words.(A)

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Oil(A) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 27:9 LXX reads heart, but the soul is torn up by affliction

Perfume and incense make the heart glad,
    but the soul is torn by trouble.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 27.9 Gk: Heb the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel