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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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General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)
Give instruction[a] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
    teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.9 Heb lacks instruction

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 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    but one who rebukes boldly makes peace.[a](A)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 10.10 Gk: Heb but one with foolish lips will come to ruin

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 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 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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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 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 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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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 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(A)

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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 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.(A)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.(B)

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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 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(A)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(B)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(C)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.(D)

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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 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.(A)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[a] broadcasts folly.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools

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

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25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
    but a good word cheers it up.(A)

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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 their words good persons eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
    those who open wide their lips come to ruin.(A)

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

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The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,[a]
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride