Proverbs 17:28
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 Standard Bible
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

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.

New King James Version
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

New American Standard Bible
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

NASB 1995
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

NASB 1977
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent.

Legacy Standard Bible
Even an ignorant fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.

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.

Christian Standard Bible
Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent — discerning, when he seals his lips.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.

American Standard Version
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

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.

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.

Contemporary English Version
Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.

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.

English Revised Version
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

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.

Good News Translation
After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut.

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.

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.

Literal Standard Version
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, | He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!

Majority Standard Bible
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

New American Bible
Even fools, keeping silent, are considered wise; if they keep their lips closed, intelligent.

NET Bible
Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

New Revised Standard Version
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.

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.

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!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
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 remain 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.

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Proverbs 17
1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked














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."

. . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Even
גַּ֤ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

a fool
אֱוִ֣יל (’ĕ·wîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 191: Foolish

is considered
יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב (yê·ḥā·šêḇ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2803: To think, account

wise
חָכָ֣ם (ḥā·ḵām)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

if he keeps silent,
מַ֭חֲרִישׁ (ma·ḥă·rîš)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

[and] discerning
נָבֽוֹן׃ (nā·ḇō·wn)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

when he holds
אֹטֵ֖ם (’ō·ṭêm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 331: To close, to contract

his tongue.
שְׂפָתָ֣יו (śə·p̄ā·ṯāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool when he keeps silent (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 17:27
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