Proverbs 17:28
Expanded Bible
28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;
if they ·don’t speak [L keep their lips shut], they appear to understand.
Proverbs 17:28
New American Standard Bible
28 Even a fool, when he (A)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Proverbs 18:2
Expanded Bible
2 Fools do not ·want to understand anything [L delight in understanding].
They only want to ·tell others what they think [L reveal/disclose their heart].
Proverbs 18:2
New American Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart
Proverbs 18:6-7
Expanded Bible
6 The ·words [L lips] of fools ·start quarrels [or make accusations].
·They make people want to beat them [L Their mouth invites a beating].
7 The ·words [L mouth] of fools will ruin them;
their own ·words [L lips] will trap them.
Proverbs 18:6-7
New American Standard Bible
6 A fool’s lips [a]bring strife,
And his mouth invites (A)beatings.
7 A (B)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with
Proverbs 19:1
Expanded Bible
19 It is better to be poor and ·honest [L walking in innocence]
than to be foolish and ·tell lies [L have crooked lips].
Proverbs 19:1
New American Standard Bible
On Life and Conduct
19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
Than a person who is perverse in [a]speech and is a fool.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:1 Lit his lips
Proverbs 19:10
Expanded Bible
10 A fool should not live in luxury.
A slave should not rule over princes [Eccl. 10:5–7].
Proverbs 19:10
New American Standard Bible
Proverbs 19:29
Expanded Bible
29 ·People who make fun of wisdom will be punished [L Punishments were made for mockers],
and ·the backs of foolish people will be beaten [L blows for the backs of fools].
Proverbs 19:29
New American Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:29 LXX Rods
Proverbs 20:3
Expanded Bible
3 Foolish people are always fighting,
but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].
Proverbs 20:3
New American Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
Proverbs 23:9
Expanded Bible
9 Don’t speak in the ears of fools [Matt. 7:6];
they will only ·ignore [despise] your ·wise [insightful] words.
Proverbs 23:9
New American Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:9 Lit in the ears of a
Proverbs 24:7
Expanded Bible
7 Foolish people cannot understand wisdom.
They ·have nothing to say [L do not open their mouth] in ·a discussion [L the gate; C where the elders make decisions].
Proverbs 24:7
New American Standard Bible
Proverbs 26:1
Expanded Bible
26 It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest.
Neither should a foolish person ever be honored.
Proverbs 26:1
New American Standard Bible
Similitudes and Instructions
Read full chapter
Proverbs 26:3-12
Expanded Bible
3 Whips are for horses, and ·harnesses [bridles] are for donkeys,
·so paddles are good for fools [L and rods for the backs of fools].
4 Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.
5 Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will ·think they are really wise [L be wise in their own eyes; C a wise person must read the situation to know whether to answer or not].
6 Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking ·poison [L violence].
7 A ·wise saying spoken by [L proverb in the mouth of] a fool
·is as useless as [L dangles like] the legs of a crippled person.
8 Giving honor to a foolish person
is like ·tying a stone [L a bag of stones] in a slingshot.
9 A ·wise saying spoken by [L proverb in the mouth of] a fool
is like a ·thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk [L thornbush in the hand of a fool].
10 Hiring a foolish person or anyone just passing by
is like an archer shooting ·at just anything [randomly].
11 A fool who repeats his ·foolishness [foolish mistakes]
is like a dog that goes back to ·what it has thrown up [its vomit; 2 Pet. 2:22].
12 There is more hope for a foolish person
than for those who ·think they are wise [L are wise in their own eyes].
Proverbs 26:3-12
New American Standard Bible
3 A (A)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (B)rod for the back of fools.
4 (C)Do not answer a fool [a]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
5 (D)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (E)wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like [b]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like [c]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that [d]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [e]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (F)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (G)repeats [f]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (H)wise in his own eyes?
(I)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
- Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
- Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
- Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
- Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
- Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his
Proverbs 27:3
Expanded Bible
3 Stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but ·a complaining fool [or the irritation/frustration caused by a fool] is ·heavier [worse] than either.
Proverbs 27:3
New American Standard Bible
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.