26 One who gives [a]a right answer
Kisses the lips.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:26 Or an honest

26 Those who speak honestly
    are like those who kiss on the lips.

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Do not go out (A)hastily to [a]argue your case;
[b]Otherwise, what will you do in [c]the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
[d](B)Argue your case with your neighbor,
And (C)do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or one who hears it will put you to shame,
And the evil report about you will not [e]pass away.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Lit contend
  2. Proverbs 25:8 Lit Lest
  3. Proverbs 25:8 Lit its
  4. Proverbs 25:9 Lit Contend
  5. Proverbs 25:10 Lit return

don’t be quick to quarrel over;
    what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?
Argue it out with your neighbor,
    and don’t give away someone’s secret.
10 Otherwise, the one who hears it will vilify you;
    the slander against you will never stop.

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11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,
Is a (A)word spoken at [a]the proper time.
12 Like [b]an (B)earring of gold and a (C)jewelry piece of (D)fine gold,
Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a (E)listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the [c]time of harvest
Is a (F)faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (G)clouds and (H)wind without rain
Is a person who boasts [d]of his gifts falsely.
15 Through [e](I)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks bone.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:11 Lit its time
  2. Proverbs 25:12 Or a nose ring
  3. Proverbs 25:13 Lit day
  4. Proverbs 25:14 Lit in a gift of falsehood
  5. Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger

11 Words spoken at the right time
    are like gold apples in a silver setting.
12 Wise correction to an ear that listens
    is like a gold earring or jewelry of fine gold.

13 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day
    are reliable messengers to those who send them;
    they restore the life of their master.
14 People who brag about a gift never given
    are like clouds and wind that produce no rain.
15 A commander can be persuaded with patience,
    and a tender tongue can break a bone.

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20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [a]soda,
Is one who sings songs to [b]a troubled heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:20 I.e., natron
  2. Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil

20 Singing a song to a troubled heart
    is like taking off a garment on a cold day
    or putting vinegar on a wound.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:20 LXX; MT vinegar on natron (a detergent)

(A)Do not answer a fool [a]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
(B)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (C)wise in his own eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously

Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
    or you will become like them yourself.
Answer fools according to their folly,
    or they will deem themselves wise.

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17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
So is one who passes by and [a]meddles with (A)strife not belonging to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:17 Lit infuriates himself

17     Like yanking the ears of a dog,
    so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person’s fight.

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18 Like a maniac who shoots
(A)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 So is a person who (B)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(C)Was I not joking?”

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18 Like a crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows
19     are those who deceive their neighbor and say, “Hey, I was only joking!”

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23 One who (A)rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
Than one who (B)flatters with the tongue.

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23 Those who correct someone will, in the end, find more favor
    than those with flattering tongues.

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20 Do you see a person who is (A)hasty with his words?
There is (B)more hope for a fool than for him.

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20 Do you see people who are quick to speak?
    There is more hope for fools than for them.

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