The one who corrects a mocker
will bring abuse on himself;
the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt.[a]
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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Footnotes

  1. 9:7 Lit man: his blemish

He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,
    and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.[a]
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise and he will love you.
Give to a wise one and he will become more wise;
    teach[b] a righteous one and he will increase learning.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Literally “abuse him”
  2. Proverbs 9:9 Literally “make known to”

10 A sly wink of the eye(A) causes grief,
and foolish lips will be destroyed.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(B)
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(C)

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10 The winking of an eye causes[a] trouble,
    and the foolishness of lips comes to ruin.
11 A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness,
    and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Or “gives, sets up”

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.(A)

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

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13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.[a]
14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Literally “heart”

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.(A)

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

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13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.[a]
14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Literally “heart”

13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.(A)

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13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
    but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.

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13 By rebellious speech an evil person is trapped,(A)
but a righteous person escapes from trouble.(B)

14 A person will be satisfied with good
by the fruit of his mouth,(C)
and the work of a person’s hands will reward him.(D)

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13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good,
    and the reward of a man’s labor[a] will return to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:14 Literally “the hands of a man”

16 A fool’s displeasure is known at once,
but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.(A)

17 Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right,
but a false witness speaks deceit.(B)

18 There is one who speaks rashly,
like a piercing sword;(C)
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(D)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue, only a moment.(E)

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16 As for a fool, on that very day[a] he makes his anger known,
    but he who ignores an insult is prudent.
17 He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness,
    but the witness of falsehood, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 A lip of truth endures forever,
    but a tongue of deception lasts only a moment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:16 Literally “on the day”

22 Lying lips are detestable to the Lord,(A)
but faithful people are his delight.(B)

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.(C)

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22 An abomination of Yahweh are lips of deceit,
    but they who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A clever person conceals knowledge,
    but the heart[a] of a fool[b] announces folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 12:23 Hebrew “fools”

25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.(A)

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25 Anxiety in the heart[a] of a man will weigh him down,
    but a good word will cheer him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:25 Or “mind”

From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(C)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(D)

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From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good,
    but the desire[a] of the treacherous, wrongdoing.
He who keeps his mouth guards his life;[b]
    he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Or “soul”
  2. Proverbs 13:3 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

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

In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.

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