King James Version

Proverbs 17:28

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

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Hebrew

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גַּ֤םgamalsoגַּםparticle, affirmation — “also”H1571properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...andagain, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.אֱוִ֣ילevilfoolאֱוִילadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “fool”, the ordinary formH191(figuratively) sillyfool(-ish) (man).מַ֭חֲרִישׁmacharishbe deafחָרַשׁverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “be deaf”, a verb used as a describing wordH2790to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)[idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.חָכָ֣םchakhamwise , manחָכָםadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).יֵחָשֵׁ֑בyechashevregardחָשַׁבverb, niphal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “regard”, an unfinished actionH2803properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute(make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.אֹטֵ֖םotemnarrowאָטַםverb, qal, participle, absolute — “narrow”, a verb used as a describing wordH331to close (the lips or ears); by analology to contract (a window by bevelled jambs)narrow, shut, stop.שְׂפָתָ֣יוsefatayvlanguageשָׂפָהnoun, common, feminine, dual, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “language”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8193the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.נָבֽוֹןnavonunderstandבִּיןverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “understand”, a verb used as a describing wordH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

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

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀνοήτῳ ἐπερωτήσαντι σοφίαν σοφία λογισθήσεται, ἐνεὸν δέ τις ἑαυτὸν ποιήσας, δόξει φρόνιμος εἶναι.