Proverbs 17:28

17:19. If we would keep a clear conscience and a quiet mind, we must shun all excitements to anger. And a man who affects a style of living above his means, goes the way to ruin. 20. There is nothing got by ill designs. And many have paid dear for an unbridled tongue. 21. This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child. 22. It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. 23. The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes. 24. The prudent man keeps the word of God continually in view. But the foolish man cannot fix his thoughts, nor pursue any purpose with steadiness. 25. Wicked children despise the authority of their father, and the tenderness of their mother. 26. It is very wrong to find fault for doing what is duty. 27,28. A man may show himself to be a wise man, by the good temper of his mind, and by the good government of his tongue. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound there; therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment as men may be.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise,.... Not only one that is sparing of his words, and is really a man of knowledge and understanding; but even a feel, if he is but silent, and does not betray his folly by his words, will be reckoned a wise man by those that do not know him; and, whatever fool he may be in other respects, yet in this he acts the wise part, that he holds his peace and says nothing; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding; and keeps them shut, lest he should say anything rashly and hastily; a man that has so much command of himself as not to speak unadvisedly, through the heat of his own passions, and through the provocations of others, will pass for a man that understands himself, and knows how to behave well before others.

28 . he that shutteth &c.] Or, with R.V. text, when he (i.e. the fool of the former clause of the verse) shutteth … he is esteemed as prudent . Mr Horton ( Book of Proverbs , p. 177) quotes the old Norse proverb, “An unwise man when he comes among the people Had best be silent: no one knows That he nothing knows, unless he talks too much.”

Verse 28. - Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise. Not betraying his ignorance and incapacity by words, a foolish man is credited with possessing sense (comp. Job 13:5 ). Proverbs to this effect are found in all languages. Thus the Greek - Πᾶς τις ἀπαίδευτος φρονιμώτατος ἐστὶ σιωπῶν . Cato, 'Dist.,' 1:3 - "Virtutem primam esse puta compescere linguam;Proximus ille Deo qui scit ratione tacere." Talmud, "Silence becomes the wise, much more feels." The Dutch have appropriated this maxim, "Zweigen de dwazen zij waren wijs, .... Were fools silent, they would pass for wise." "Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses." "Silence," says the Sanskrit gnome, "is the ornament of the ignorant." "Talking comes by nature," say the Germans, "silence of understanding." The LXX. gives a different turn to the first clause: "A foolish man inquiring of wisdom will have wisdom imputed to him;" the expressed desire of knowledge will be taken as a proof of intelligence. The second clause is coordinate with the former. He that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding; Revised Version, when he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent ; Septuagint, "A man making himself dumb will seem to be prudent." Theophrastus is said to have thus addressed a guest who was very silent at table: "If you are a fool, you act wisely; if you are wise, you act foolishly." "Let every man," says St. James ( James 1:19 ), "be swift to hear, slow to speak." Proverbs 17:28

Ver. 28 continues the same theme, the value of silence: Even a fool, when he keeps silence, is counted wise; When he shutteth his mouth, discreet. The subj. as well as the pred. of the first line avail for the second. אטם, obturare, occludere, usually of the closing the ear, is here transferred to the mouth. The Hiph. החרישׁ means mutum agere (cf. Arab. khrs, mutum esse), from חרשׁ, which, like κωφός, passes from the meaning surdus to that of mutus (Fl.). The words of Job 13:5, and also those of Alexander: si tacuisses sapiens mansisses, are applicable to fools. An Arab. proverb says, "silence is the covering of the stupid." In the epigrammatical hexameter, πᾶς τις ἀπαίδευτος φρονιμώτατός ἐστι σιωπῶν, the word σιωπῶν has the very same syntactical position as these two participles. (Note: Cf. C. Schultze's Die bibl. Sprichwrter (1860), p. 60f.)

PROVERBS 17: 26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity. Verse 26 Nor to strike princes for equity - To fall out with the ruler of the people, and to take off his head under pretense of his not being a just or equitable governor, is unjust. To kill a king on the ground of justice is a most dreadful omen to any land. Where was it ever done, that it promoted the public prosperity? No experiment of this kind has ever yet succeeded, howsoever worthless the king might be. PROVERBS 17: 27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. PROVERBS 17: 28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. Verse 28 Even a fool - He is counted wise as to that particular. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool. A man may be golden-mouthed and silver-tongued in eloquence; but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than diamonds. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest. [ Proverbs 18 ] PROVERBS 18: 1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement. The man who separates himself and seeks wisdom. The fool and the wicked man. Deep wisdom. Contention of fools. The talebearer and the slothful. The name of the Lord. Pride and presumption because of riches. Hastiness of spirit.

The sin of covetousness marks the sluggard, as the virtue of benevolence the righteous. 27. God regards the heart, and hypocrisy is more odious than open inconsistency. wicked mind —or, "design" (Proverbs 1:4). 28. (Compare Proverbs 19:5). that heareth —or heeds instruction, and so grows wise. speaketh constantly —or sincerely (compare Habakkuk 1:5), and hence is believed (Proverbs 12:19; James 1:19). 29. hardeneth his face —is obstinate. directeth … way —considers it, and acts advisedly. 30, 31. Men's best devices and reliances are vain compared with God's, or without His aid (Proverbs 19:21; Psalms 20:7; 33:17). ## CHAPTER 22 Proverbs 22:1-29. 1. A good name —(Job 30:8, Hebrew ); "good" is supplied here from Ecclesiastes 7:1. loving favour —kind regard, that is, of the wise and good. 2. Before God all are on the same footing (Proverbs 14:31; 17:5). 3. are punished —that is, for their temerity; for the evil is not necessarily punitive, as the prudent might otherwise be its objects. 4. humility and the fear of the Lord —are in apposition; one produces the other. On the results, compare Proverbs 3:16; 8:18. 5. he that … them —Those who properly watch over their own souls are thus preserved from the dangers which attend the way of perverse men (Proverbs 16:17). 6. Train —initiate, or early instruct. the way —literally, "his way," that selected for him in which he should go; for early training secures habitual walking in it. 7.

[Reformed Biblical] CHAP. XVII. 27, 28. 279 even in word, is our sin. 1 To pray is our duty. And who knoweth what a prayer-hearing God would send--a righteous administration, a covert and blessing to the land? 2 27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understand- ing is of an excellent (cool, marg.) spirit. 28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. The wisdom of these proverbs will be acknowledged by those, who know the sins of the tongue, and the immense difficulty of restraining the unruly member. A man of knowledge will spare his words, when the probable prospect is harm rather than good. (Ps. xxxix. 1, 2. Matt. vii. 6.) The good treasure is far too valuable to be unprofitably spent. Silence is often the best proof of wisdom.* Our Lord in his divine knowledge, careful as he was to improve every opportunity for instruc- tion, sometimes spared his words. (Matt. xvi. 4.) This restraint is most important under provocation. 3 Passion demands immediate judgment. A cool, well-tempered understanding asks further time for consideration. The fiery ebullition of the Apostles, their Master judged to be the want of an excellent understanding. (Luke, ix. 54, 55.) Nehemiah, by repressing the first vent of his righteous anger, gave a reasonable and convincing answer for the occasion. † The prophet wisely refrained even a message from God to a king in the moment of passion. (2 Chron. xxv