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One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
    One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
    Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
    Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.

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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 One winking with the eye causes sorrow,
    but a chattering fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
    but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

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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 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
    but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

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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 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
    but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
    but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

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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 trapped by sinfulness of lips,
    but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
    The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.

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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 fool shows his annoyance the same day,
    but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
17 He who is truthful testifies honestly,
    but a false witness lies.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
    but the tongue of the wise heals.
19 Truth’s lips will be established forever,
    but a lying tongue is only momentary.

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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 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,
    but those who do the truth are his delight.
23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

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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 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
    but a kind word makes it glad.

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

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By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,
    but the unfaithful crave violence.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
    One who opens wide his lips 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

The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
    but the lips of the wise protect them.

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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