One who (A)corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And one who rebukes a wicked person gets [a]insults for himself.
(B)Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(C)Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;
Teach a righteous person and he will (D)increase his insight.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit a blemish

General Maxims

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:9 Heb lacks instruction

10 He (A)who winks the eye causes trouble,
And [a](B)a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 The (C)mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But (D)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Lit the foolish of lips

10 He who winks the eye causes trouble,
    but he who boldly reproves makes peace.[a]
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Gk: Heb but a prating fool will come to ruin

13 On (A)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (B)a rod is for the back of him who has no [a]sense.
14 Wise people (C)store up knowledge,
But with (D)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart

13 On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 On (A)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (B)a rod is for the back of him who has no [a]sense.
14 Wise people (C)store up knowledge,
But with (D)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart

13 On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 One (A)who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is [a]trustworthy (B)conceals a matter.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:13 Lit faithful of spirit

13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden.

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13 [a]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (A)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be (B)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [b]words,
And the (C)deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare
  2. Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth

13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good,
    and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

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16 A (A)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (B)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (C)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a (D)lying tongue is only for a moment.

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16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent man ignores an insult.
17 He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure for ever,
    but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

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22 (A)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (B)prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

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22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man conceals his knowledge,
    but fools[a] proclaim their folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 Heb the heart of fools

25 (A)Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a (B)good word makes it glad.

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25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.

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From the fruit of a person’s mouth he [a](A)enjoys good,
But the [b]desire of the treacherous is (B)violence.
One who (C)guards his mouth protects his life;
One who (D)opens wide his lips [c]comes to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Lit eats
  2. Proverbs 13:2 Lit soul
  3. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his

From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
He who guards his mouth preserves his life;
    he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

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In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But (A)the lips of the wise will protect them.

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The talk of a fool is a rod for his back,[a]
    but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride