King James Version

Proverbs 17:27

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

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Hebrew

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חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְchosekherefrainחָשַׂךְverb, qal, participle, absolute — “refrain”, a verb used as a describing wordH2820to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observeassuage, [idiom] darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.אֲ֭מָרָיוamarayvanswerאֵמֶרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “answer”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH561something saidanswer, [idiom] appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.יוֹדֵ֣עַyodeaknowיָדַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “know”, a verb used as a describing wordH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…דָּ֑עַתdaatcunningדַּעַתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “cunning”, the ordinary formH1847knowledgecunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).וקרvqrand coldקַרconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “and cold”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7119cool; figuratively, quietcold, excellent (from the margin).יְקַרyeqarbrightnessיָקָרadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “brightness”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3368valuable (objectively or subjectively)brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation.ר֝֗וּחַruchaangerרוּחַnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).אִ֣ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…תְּבוּנָֽהtevunahdiscretionתָּבוּןnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “discretion”, the ordinary formH8394intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, capricediscretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

Darby Translation

He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

Douay-Rheims

He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὃς φείδεται ῥῆμα προέσθαι σκληρὸν, ἐπιγνώμων· μακρόθυμος δὲ ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος.