Proverbs 17:28

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.

Translation for Translators

In The 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.

In Context

27Those who have good sense do not talk a lot, and those who ◄control their tempers/keep themselves from becoming very angry► are truly wise.

Read all of Proverbs 17

Cross References

Job 13:5I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you could do.

Proverbs 15:2When wise people speak [MTY], it causes those who hear what they say to want to know more; foolish people continually say [MTY] what is foolish.

Ecclesiastes 10:3Even while foolish people walk along the road, they show that they do not have good sense; they show everyone that they are not wise.

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 17:28