Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
(A)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    (B)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction[a] to a wise man, and he will be (C)still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will (D)increase in learning.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:9 Hebrew lacks instruction

The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.[a]
Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;(A)
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.(B)
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit man his blemish

10 Whoever (A)winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 (B)The mouth of the righteous is (C)a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked (D)conceals violence.

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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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13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but (A)a rod is for the back of him who (B)lacks sense.
14 The wise (C)lay up knowledge,
    but (D)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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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 him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but (A)a rod is for the back of him who (B)lacks sense.
14 The wise (C)lay up knowledge,
    but (D)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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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 Whoever (A)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

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

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13 An evil man is ensnared (A)by the transgression of his lips,[a]
    (B)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth (C)a man is satisfied with good,
    (D)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare

13 An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,(A)
but a righteous one escapes from trouble.(B)

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

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16 (A)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 (B)Whoever speaks[a] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but (C)a false witness utters deceit.
18 (D)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings (E)healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but (F)a lying tongue is but for a moment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:17 Hebrew breathes out

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, 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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22 (A)Lying lips are (B)an abomination to the Lord,
    (C)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 (D)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    (E)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

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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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25 (A)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.

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

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From the fruit of his mouth a man (A)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous (B)is for violence.
(C)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    (D)he who opens wide his lips (E)comes to ruin.

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From the words of his mouth,
a man 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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By the mouth of a fool comes (A)a rod for his back,[a]
    (B)but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride

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