PROV 17:28 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἀνοήτῳ ἐπερωτήσαντι σοφίαν σοφία λογισθήσεται, ἐνεὸν δέ τις ἑαυτὸν ποιήσας, δόξει φρόνιμος εἶναι.
(Anoaʸtōi eperōtaʸsanti sofian sofia logisthaʸsetai, eneon de tis heauton poiaʸsas, doxei fronimos einai. )

BrTr Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.

ULT Even a fool keeping silent will be considered wise;
⇔ one shutting his lips—understanding.

UST People will think even foolish people are wise if those foolish people do not speak.
⇔ Indeed, if fools refrain from speaking people will consider them to be insightful.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
⇔ When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

WMBB (Same as above)

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

LSV Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise,
He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!

FBV Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.

T4T ⇔ People may think that foolish people who do not say anything are wise;
⇔ if foolish people ◄do not say anything/keep their mouths shut►, others will think that they are very intelligent.

LEB • Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise ;[fn] he who closes his lips is intelligent.

17:? Literally “wise, he shall be considered”

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.

Moff Even a fool may pass for wise, if he says nothing
⇔ with closed lips he may be counted sensible

JPS Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.

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

DRA Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.

YLT Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!

Drby Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

RV 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/holds his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent. )

SLT Also the foolish one being silent shall be thought wise: and he shutting his lips, understanding.

Wbstr Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

KJB-1769 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/holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. )

KJB-1611 Euen a foole, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips, is esteemed a man of vnderstanding.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Yea, a very foole when he holdeth his tongue is counted wise: and he that stoppeth his lippes is esteemed prudent.
(Yea, a very fool when he holdeth/holds his tongue is counted wise: and he that stoppeth his lips is esteemed prudent.)

Gnva Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
(Even a fool (when he holdeth/holds his peace) is counted wise, and he that stoppeth his lips, prudent. )

Cvdl Yee a very foole (when he holdeth his tonge) is counted wyse, and to haue vnderstodinge, when he shutteth his lippes.
(Ye/You_all a very fool (when he holdeth/holds his tonge) is counted wise, and to have understanding, when he shutteth his lips.)

Wycl 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 fool, if he is still, shall be gessid a wise man; and, if he pressith together his lips, he shall be gessid an understanding man.)

Luth Ein Narr, wenn er schwiege, würde auch weise gerechnet und verständig, wenn er das Maul hielte.
(A fool(n), when he remained_silente, would also wise calculated and sensible/understanding, when he the mouth held/kepte.)

ClVg Stultus quoque, si tacuerit, sapiens reputabitur, et si compresserit labia sua, intelligens.]
(Stupid_(person) too, when/but_if be_silent, wise will_be_considered, and when/but_if compresserit lips his_own, intelligent.] )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

17:28

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The phrases in bold print both refer to not speaking.

^28aEven a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,

^28band discerning when he holds his tongue.

In Hebrew, as in the BSB, there is no verb in the first phrase of 17:28b. In some languages, it may need to be supplied from the parallel verb in 17:28a. The GW has supplied a verb with similar meaning. It has:

^28bHe is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.

This verse may be closely connected with 17:27. That verse describes a truly wise person as someone who restrains his speech. Here, the author somewhat humorously points out that silence is not necessarily a sign of wisdom.Murphy (page 132). Toy (page 353) and Ross (page 1022) make the similar point that a fool hides his foolishness by keeping silent. People may think that even a fool is wise if he doesn’t speak at all.

17:28a–b

(combined/reordered)

Even a foolish person seems wise and intelligent if he remains silent.

Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue: Some other ways to translate these two lines are:

^28aEven a fool, if he keeps his mouth shut, will seem wise; ^28bif he holds his tongue, he will seem intelligent. (REB)

^28aEven fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; ^28bif they don’t speak, they appear to understand. (NCV)

For fool, see fool 1 in the Glossary. For wise, see wisdom in the Glossary. For discerning, see discerning (Hebrew nabon) in the Glossary.

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Even fools seem smart when they are quiet. (CEV)

After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut. (GNT)

17:28a

Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,

Even a fool seems to be wise if he remains quiet.
Even if you^(sing) are a fool, people may think that you are wise if you do not speak.

17:28b

and discerning when he holds his tongue.

As long as he keeps his mouth shut, he may appear to be intelligent.
They may consider you^(sing) to be a smart person if you say nothing.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

גַּ֤ם אֱוִ֣יל מַ֭חֲרִישׁ חָכָ֣ם יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣י⁠ו נָבֽוֹן

also/yet fool keeps_silent wise considered closes lips_of,his intelligent

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word that shows that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “Even a fool who keeps silent will be considered wise; yes, one who shuts his lips is an understanding one”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אֱוִ֣יל & אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣י⁠ו נָבֽוֹן

fool & closes lips_of,his intelligent

Here, a fool and one who shuts his lips represent types of people in general, not specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. See how you translated a fool in [7:22](../07/22.md). Alternate translation: “any fool … any person who shuts that person’s lips is an understanding person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַ֭חֲרִישׁ

keeps_silent

This phrase refers to someone who refrains from speaking unnecessarily. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “who does not speak unnecessarily”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב

considered

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people will consider to be”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣י⁠ו

closes lips_of,his

Here Solomon refers to someone who refrains from speaking unnecessarily as if that person shuts his lips. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “one who does not speak unnecessarily”

Parallel PROV 17:28

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

17:28

17:28a–b

17:28a

17:28b