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. EVEN A FOOL, WHEN HE HOLDETH HIS PEACE, IS COUNTED WISE; (AND) HE THAT SHUTTETH HIS LIPS (IS ESTEEMED) A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING. This confirms . Thus, the objection is met, If I do not repay an injury with words or blows, I shall be esteemed a fool. Nay, thou shalt be esteemed by God, by angels, and by saints, wise....

Verse Proverbs 17:28. _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....

IS ESTEEMED - Or, “is” (simply). The maxim would imply that silence is in any case good....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 17:1 (Comp, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:17; Proverbs 16:8.) BETTER (sweeter) IS A DRY MORSEL, AND QUIETNESS THEREWITH. Dry bread was soaked in wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the vinegar" (Ruth 2:14); thus Jesus gave the sop to Judas when he had dipped it (John 13:26). The Septuagint is pleonastic, "Better is a morsel with joy in peace." Ab

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....

CHAPTER 17 DIVERSE PROVERBS Of the twenty-eight proverbs found in this chapter we point out but a few. “The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). Man may try silver and gold, but God only the hearts. And He tries the hearts by the refining process, trials and afflictions, the process which rests in His own hands. (See Psalms 66:10; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7 .) “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9). To

PROVERBS 17. Fresh points are the rise of the able and clever slave to a place in the family (Proverbs 17:2), the practice of bribes (Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 17:23), the value of adversity as a test of friendship (Proverbs 17:17): also the subject of suretyship, dealt with in Proverbs 6:1, is resumed (Proverbs 17:18). PROVERBS 17:1. For the connexion betwee

FOOL. Hebrew. _'evil,_ as in verses: Proverbs 17:16; Proverbs 17:22. See note on Proverbs 1:7. UNDERSTANDINGS. wisdom (i.e.. wise man)....

_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....

TEXT Proverbs 17:20-28 20. He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy. 22. A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones. 23. A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice. 24. Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him. 26. Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness. 27. He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool