Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17:28 in other translations
| BSB | Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue. |
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| WEB | Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. |
| ASV | Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent. |
| YLT | Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent! |
| DARBY | Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, and he that shutteth his lips, intelligent. |
| BBE | Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense. |
| Webster | Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. |
What does Proverbs 17:28 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 17:27-28
27-28. Prudence of speech is commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain conversation.
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 17:27-28
A man may show himself to be a wise man, by the good temper of his mind, and by the good government of his tongue. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound there; therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment as men may be.
Proverbs 17:28 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for Proverbs 17:28
- Job 13:5
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
- Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
- Ecclesiastes 10:14
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
- Ecclesiastes 5:3
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
- Ecclesiastes 10:3
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Proverbs 17:27
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
- Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17:28 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Aun el necio cuando calla, es contado por sabio: el que cierra sus labios es entendido. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Même le fou qui se tait est réputé sage, – celui qui ferme ses lèvres, un homme intelligent. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Auch ein Narr, der schweigt, wird für weise gehalten, für verständig, wer seine Lippen verschließt. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Stultus quoque, si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur, et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens. |