A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Parallel translations
- WEB A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
- BSB A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
- 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 dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
- Prov 10:19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
- Prov 11:13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
- Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
- Prov 10:14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
- Eccl 10:12–14The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
- Eccl 10:3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.