A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
- KJV He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
- NKJV He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
- NASB One who withholds his words has knowledge, And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.
- NLT A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
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
Restrained, calm speech marks a person of true knowledge and understanding. Wisdom shows itself in measured words and a cool spirit.
Overview
Sparing one's words and keeping an even temper are signs of knowledge and discernment, in contrast to the hasty and hot-tempered. The proverb commends self-control of both tongue and emotions as fruit of inner wisdom. James echoes this, urging believers to be slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19), a self-mastery that the Spirit produces in those conformed to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Jas 3:18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
- Jas 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Prov 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Prov 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
- Jas 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
- Eccl 9:17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
- Prov 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
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 17:27 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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