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

Wisdom Extends Life

Whoever corrects a mocker invites only insult,[a]
    and whoever rebukes the wicked will himself become stained.
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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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit. insult to himself

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 Those who wink their eyes[a] are trouble makers,
    and the mocking fool will be brought down.[b]

11 What the righteous say[c] is a flowing fountain,[d]
    but what the wicked say[e] conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 I.e. Those whose looks communicate insincerity
  2. Proverbs 10:10 So MT; LXX reads makers, but the one who reproves publicly makes peace
  3. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. The mouth of the righteous
  4. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. a fountain of life
  5. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. but the mouth of the wicked

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 characterizes the speech[a] of the discerning,
    but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.
14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[b] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit. Wisdom is found on the lips
  2. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

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 characterizes the speech[a] of the discerning,
    but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.
14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[b] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit. Wisdom is found on the lips
  2. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

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

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13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
    but the trustworthy person[a] keeps a confidence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:13 Lit. trustworthy in spirit

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’s sinful speech ensnares him,
    but the righteous person escapes from trouble.

14 By his fruitful speech a man can remain satisfied,
    and a man’s handiwork will reward him.

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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 The anger of a fool becomes readily apparent,
    but the prudent person overlooks an insult.

17 The truth teller speaks what is right,
    but the false witness speaks what is[a] deceitful.
18 Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword,
    but what the wise say promotes healing.
19 A truthful saying[b] is trusted forever,
    but the liar[c] only for a moment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:17 The Heb. lacks speaks what is
  2. Proverbs 12:19 Lit. lips
  3. Proverbs 12:19 Lit. the lying tongue

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 Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.

23 A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,[a]
    but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 The Heb. lacks to himself

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

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25 A person’s anxiety weighs down his heart,
    but an appropriate word is encouraging.

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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 fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[a]
    but the treacherous crave violence.
Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
    anyone who talks too much[b] is ruined.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Lit. man eats good things
  2. Proverbs 13:3 Lit. who opens wide his lips

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

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