Proverbs 17:28
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
In Context
27He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
Cross References
Job 13:5If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
Proverbs 15:2Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
Ecclesiastes 10:3And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:28
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man:—1. By the good temper, the sweetness and the sedateness, of his mind: A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit, a precious spirit (so the word is); he is one that looks well to his spirit, that it be as it should be, and so keeps it in… Read the whole commentary →