A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
Parallel translations
- WEB A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
- KJV A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
- NKJV A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
- NASB A prudent person conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
- NLT The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A prudent person keeps his knowledge to himself, but fools blurt out folly. Wisdom knows when to speak and when to stay silent.
Overview
The proverb contrasts the prudent person who restrains and rightly times his knowledge with the fool who broadcasts foolishness. Discretion in speech is itself a form of wisdom. Knowing when to hold back reflects the self-control and discernment that mark a life shaped by the fear of the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Prov 13:16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
- Prov 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Prov 11:13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
- Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- Prov 10:14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.
- Eccl 10:12–14The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- Eccl 10:3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 12:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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