28 Even a fool (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(A)

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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (A)in expressing his opinion.

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Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (A)a beating.
(B)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

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19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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10 (A)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for (B)a slave to rule over princes.

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10 It is not fitting for a fool(A) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(B)

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29 Condemnation is ready for (A)scoffers,
    and (B)beating for the backs of fools.

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29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)

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It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.

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Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(A)

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Wisdom is (A)too high for a fool;
    in (B)the gate he does not open his mouth.

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Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

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26 Like snow in summer or (A)rain in harvest,
    so (B)honor is (C)not fitting for a fool.

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26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)

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(A)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and (B)a rod for the back of fools.
(C)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
(D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be (E)wise in his own eyes.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and (F)drinks violence.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is (G)one who gives honor to a fool.
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(A)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(B)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(C)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(D)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(E)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(G)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(I)
    so fools repeat their folly.(J)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(K)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(L)

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A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
    but (A)a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

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Stone is heavy and sand(A) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

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