Proverbs 17:28
English Standard Version
28 Even a fool (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 17:28
Common English Bible
28 Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise;
those who shut their lips are smart.
Proverbs 18:2
English Standard Version
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only (A)in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 18:2
Common English Bible
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing their opinion.
Proverbs 18:6-7
English Standard Version
6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites (A)a beating.
7 (B)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 18:6-7
Common English Bible
6 The lips of fools make accusations;
their mouths elicit beatings.
7 The mouth of fools is their ruin;
their lips are a trap for their lives.
Proverbs 19:1
English Standard Version
19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Proverbs 19:1
Common English Bible
19 Better to be poor and walk in innocence
than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.
Proverbs 19:10
English Standard Version
10 (A)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for (B)a slave to rule over princes.
Proverbs 19:10
Common English Bible
10 Luxury isn’t fitting for a fool;
even less so for a servant to rule over princes.
Proverbs 19:29
English Standard Version
Proverbs 19:29
Common English Bible
29 Punishments were made for mockers,
and blows for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 20:3
English Standard Version
3 It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
Proverbs 20:3
Common English Bible
3 It is honorable to back off from a fight,
but fools jump right in.
Proverbs 23:9
English Standard Version
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
for he will despise the good sense of your words.
Proverbs 23:9
Common English Bible
9 Don’t speak in the ears of fools,
for they will scorn your insightful words.
Proverbs 24:7
English Standard Version
Proverbs 24:7
Common English Bible
7 Wisdom is beyond foolish people.
They don’t open their mouths in the gate.
Proverbs 26:1
English Standard Version
Proverbs 26:1
Common English Bible
26 Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest,
so honor isn’t appropriate for a fool.
Proverbs 26:3-12
English Standard Version
3 (A)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and (B)a rod for the back of fools.
4 (C)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be (E)wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and (F)drinks violence.
7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is (G)one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like (H)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (I)a dog that returns to his vomit
is (J)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (K)wise in his own eyes?
(L)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby
Proverbs 26:3-12
Common English Bible
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
or you will become like them yourself.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will deem themselves wise.
6 Sending messages with a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking down violence.
7 As legs dangle from a disabled person,
so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling,
so is giving respect to a fool.
9 Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly,
so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
12 Do you see people who consider themselves wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
Proverbs 27:3
English Standard Version
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but (A)a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
Proverbs 27:3
Common English Bible
3 A stone is heavy and sand weighs much,
but the nuisance of fools is heavier than both.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible