Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. New Living Translation Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. English Standard Version Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Berean Study Bible Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue. New American Standard Bible 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. King James Bible Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Christian Standard Bible Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent--discerning, when he seals his lips. Contemporary English Version Even fools seem smart when they are quiet. Good News Translation After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut. Holman Christian Standard Bible Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips. International Standard Version Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut. NET Bible Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. New Heart English Bible Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. Aramaic Bible in Plain English A madman who is silent is considered a wise person, and he that keeps his lips silent is considered intelligent. GOD'S WORD® Translation Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed. JPS Tanakh 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. New American Standard 1977 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent. Jubilee Bible 2000 Even a fool, when he is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. King James 2000 Bible Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. American King James Version Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. American Standard Version Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent. Brenton Septuagint Translation Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible. 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. Darby Bible Translation Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent. English Revised Version Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent. 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. World English Bible Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. Young's Literal Translation Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent! Study Bible Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness…27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit. 28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue. Cross References Job 13:5 If only you would be silent; for that would be your wisdom! Proverbs 18:1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. Treasury of Scripture Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. Job 13:5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. Lexicon Evenגַּ֤ם (gam) Conjunction Strong's Hebrew 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and a fool אֱוִ֣יל (’ĕ·wîl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 191: Foolish is considered יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב (yê·ḥā·šêḇ) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 2803: To think, account wise חָכָ֣ם (ḥā·ḵām) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 2450: Wise if he keeps silent, מַ֭חֲרִישׁ (ma·ḥă·rîš) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise [and] discerning נָבֽוֹן׃ (nā·ḇō·wn) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 995: To separate mentally, understand when he holds אֹטֵ֖ם (’ō·ṭêm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 331: To close, to contract his tongue. שְׂפָתָ֣יו (śə·p̄ā·ṯāw) Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 8193: The lip, language, a margin Verse 28. - Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise. Not betraying his ignorance and incapacity by words, a foolish man is credited with possessing sense (comp. Job 13:5). Proverbs to this effect are found in all languages. Thus the Greek - Πᾶς τις ἀπαίδευτος φρονιμώτατος ἐστὶ σιωπῶν. Cato, 'Dist.,' 1:3 - "Virtutem primam esse puta compescere linguam; Proximus ille Deo qui scit ratione tacere." Talmud, "Silence becomes the wise, much more feels." The Dutch have appropriated this maxim, "Zweigen de dwazen zij waren wijs, .... Were fools silent, they would pass for wise." "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." "Silence," says the Sanskrit gnome, "is the ornament of the ignorant." "Talking comes by nature," say the Germans, "silence of understanding." The LXX. gives a different turn to the first clause: "A foolish man inquiring of wisdom will have wisdom imputed to him;" the expressed desire of knowledge will be taken as a proof of intelligence. The second clause is coordinate with the former. He that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding; Revised Version, when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent; Septuagint, "A man making himself dumb will seem to be prudent." Theophrastus is said to have thus addressed a guest who was very silent at table: "If you are a fool, you act wisely; if you are wise, you act foolishly." "Let every man," says St. James (James 1:19), "be swift to hear, slow to speak." 17:19. If we would keep a clear conscience and a quiet mind, we must shun all excitements to anger. And a man who affects a style of living above his means, goes the way to ruin. 20. There is nothing got by ill designs. And many have paid dear for an unbridled tongue. 21. This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child. 22. It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. 23. The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes. 24. The prudent man keeps the word of God continually in view. But the foolish man cannot fix his thoughts, nor pursue any purpose with steadiness. 25. Wicked children despise the authority of their father, and the tenderness of their mother. 26. It is very wrong to find fault for doing what is duty. 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. Jump to Previous Closes Considered Counted Credited Deemed Discerning Esteemed Fool Foolish Good Holdeth Holds Intelligent Keeping Keeps Lips Peace Prudent Quiet Reckoned Shut Shuts Shutteth Shutting Silence Silent Thought Tongue Understanding WiseJump to Next Closes Considered Counted Credited Deemed Discerning Esteemed Fool Foolish Good Holdeth Holds Intelligent Keeping Keeps Lips Peace Prudent Quiet Reckoned Shut Shuts Shutteth Shutting Silence Silent Thought Tongue Understanding WiseLinks Proverbs 17:28 NIVProverbs 17:28 NLT Proverbs 17:28 ESV Proverbs 17:28 NASB Proverbs 17:28 KJV Proverbs 17:28 Bible Apps Proverbs 17:28 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 17:28 Chinese Bible Proverbs 17:28 French Bible Proverbs 17:28 German Bible Alphabetical: a and closes considered discerning Even fool he his holds if is keeps lips prudent silent thought tongue when wise OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool when he keeps silent (Prov. 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