Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, November 24th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible
New Living Translation
Proverbs 17:28
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayParallel Translations
Update Bible Version
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise; When he shuts his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise; When he shuts his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
New Century Version
Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they don't speak, they appear to understand.
Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they don't speak, they appear to understand.
New English Translation
Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
Webster's Bible Translation
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
World English Bible
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Amplified Bible
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
English Standard Version
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also a foole, if he is stille, schal be gessid a wijs man; and, if he pressith togidre hise lippis, he `schal be gessid an vndurstondynge man.
Also a foole, if he is stille, schal be gessid a wijs man; and, if he pressith togidre hise lippis, he `schal be gessid an vndurstondynge man.
English Revised Version
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
Berean Standard Bible
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
Contemporary English Version
Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.
Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.
American Standard Version
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
Bible in Basic English
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
Complete Jewish Bible
Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise; he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.
Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise; he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.
Darby Translation
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
Easy-to-Read Version
Silent fools seem wise. They say nothing and appear to be smart.
Silent fools seem wise. They say nothing and appear to be smart.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
King James Version (1611)
Euen a foole, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips, is esteemed a man of vnderstanding.
Euen a foole, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips, is esteemed a man of vnderstanding.
New Life Bible
Even a fool, when he keeps quiet, is thought to be wise. When he closes his lips, he is thought of as a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps quiet, is thought to be wise. When he closes his lips, he is thought of as a man of understanding.
New Revised Standard
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
George Lamsa Translation
Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; and he who shuts his lips is counted a man of understanding.
Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; and he who shuts his lips is counted a man of understanding.
Good News Translation
After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut.
After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, - He that closeth his lips, is thought to have understanding.
Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, - He that closeth his lips, is thought to have understanding.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
Revised Standard Version
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yea, a very foole when he holdeth his tongue is counted wise: and he that stoppeth his lippes is esteemed prudent.
Yea, a very foole when he holdeth his tongue is counted wise: and he that stoppeth his lippes is esteemed prudent.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Christian Standard Bible®
Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—discerning, when he seals his lips.
Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—discerning, when he seals his lips.
Hebrew Names Version
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
King James Version
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Lexham English Bible
Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise; he who closes his lips is intelligent.
Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise; he who closes his lips is intelligent.
Literal Translation
Even a fool who is silent is counted wise, he who shuts his lips is counted as discerning.
Even a fool who is silent is counted wise, he who shuts his lips is counted as discerning.
Young's Literal Translation
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yee a very foole (when he holdeth his tonge) is counted wyse, and to haue vnderstodinge, when he shutteth his lippes.
Yee a very foole (when he holdeth his tonge) is counted wyse, and to haue vnderstodinge, when he shutteth his lippes.
THE MESSAGE
Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.
Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.
New American Standard Bible
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
New King James Version
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Legacy Standard Bible
Even an ignorant fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.
Even an ignorant fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.
Contextual Overview
27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Proverbs 15:2, Job 13:5, Ecclesiastes 5:3, Ecclesiastes 10:3, Ecclesiastes 10:14
Reciprocal: Job 32:16 - General Proverbs 10:19 - but Proverbs 21:23 - General Proverbs 30:32 - lay
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise,.... Not only one that is sparing of his words, and is really a man of knowledge and understanding; but even a feel, if he is but silent, and does not betray his folly by his words, will be reckoned a wise man by those that do not know him; and, whatever fool he may be in other respects, yet in this he acts the wise part, that he holds his peace and says nothing;
[and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding; and keeps them shut, lest he should say anything rashly and hastily; a man that has so much command of himself as not to speak unadvisedly, through the heat of his own passions, and through the provocations of others, will pass for a man that understands himself, and knows how to behave well before others.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Is esteemed - Or, âisâ (simply). The maxim would imply that silence is in any case good.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 17:28. Even a fool — He is counted wise as to that particular. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool.
A man may be golden-mouthed and silver-tongued in eloquence; but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than diamonds. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest.
