Proverbs 17:28

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

Young's Literal Translation

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

27One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.

Read all of Proverbs 17

Cross References

Job 13:5O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

Ecclesiastes 10:3And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, 'He [is] a fool.'

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