Proverbs 17:27
New International Version
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

New Living Translation
A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

English Standard Version
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Berean Standard Bible
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

King James Bible
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

New King James Version
He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

New American Standard Bible
One who withholds his words has knowledge, And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.

NASB 1995
He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

NASB 1977
He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who holds back his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of discernment.

Amplified Bible
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words, And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).

Christian Standard Bible
The one who has knowledge restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a person of understanding.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding.

American Standard Version
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He that spares his words knows knowledge, and a patient man is wise.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.

Contemporary English Version
It makes a lot of sense to be a person of few words and to stay calm.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

English Revised Version
He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever has knowledge controls his words, and a person who has understanding is even-tempered.

Good News Translation
Those who are sure of themselves do not talk all the time. People who stay calm have real insight.

International Standard Version
Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

JPS Tanakh 1917
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.

Literal Standard Version
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, | And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.

Majority Standard Bible
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

New American Bible
Those who spare their words are truly knowledgeable, and those who are discreet are intelligent.

NET Bible
The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

New Revised Standard Version
One who spares words is knowledgeable; one who is cool in spirit has understanding.

New Heart English Bible
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

World English Bible
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

Young's Literal Translation
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper is a man of understanding.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness
26It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty. 27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit. 28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.…

Cross References
James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.


Treasury of Scripture

He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

spareth

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

an excellent spirit

Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Ecclesiastes 9:17
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

James 3:18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

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Proverbs 17
1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked














(27) He that hath knowledge . . .--This verse will better be rendered, He that restrains his words hath knowledge, and one who is cool of temper is a man of understanding. The avoidance of rash speech and hasty temper is here advised.

Verse 27. - He that hath knowledge spareth his words; Revised Version, he that spareth his words hath knowledge; he shows his common sense, not by rash talk or saying all he knows, but by restraining his tongue (comp. Proverbs 10:19; James 1:19). 'Pirke Aboth' (1:18), "All my days I have grown up amongst the wise, and have not found aught good for a man but silence; not learning but doing is the groundwork, and whoso multiplies words occasions sin" Say the Greek gnomes -

Ἐνίοις τὸ σιγᾷν ἐστὶ κρεῖττον τοῦ λέγειν
Κρεῖττον σιωπᾷν η} λαλεῖν α} μὴ πρέπει And Theognis (5:815) writes -

Βοῦς μοι ἐπὶ γλώσσης κρατερῷ ποδὶ λὰξ ἐπιβαίνων
Ἴσχει κωτίλλειν καίπερ ἐπιστάμενον Speech for a shekel, silence for two; it is like a precious stone ('Qoheleth Rabbah,' 5:5). Septuagint, "He who spareth to utter a harsh speech is prudent" (ἐπιγνώμων). A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit; Revised Version, he that is of a coot spirit is a man of understanding; i.e. he who considers before he speaks, and never answers in hot haste, proves that he is wise and intelligent. Septuagint, "The long suffering man is prudent." The above is the reading of the Khetib, followed by most interpreters. The Keri gives, "of a precious spirit" (pretiosi spiritus, Vulgate), that is, one whose words are weighty and valuable, not lavishly thrown about, but reserved as costly jewels.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A man of knowledge
יוֹדֵ֣עַ (yō·w·ḏê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

restrains
חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ (ḥō·w·śêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2820: To restrain, refrain, to refuse, spare, preserve, to observe

his words,
אֲ֭מָרָיו (’ă·mā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 561: Something said

and a man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of understanding
תְּבוּנָֽה׃ (tə·ḇū·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8394: Intelligence, an argument, caprice

keeps a cool head.
יְקַר־ (yə·qar-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7119: Cool, quiet


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:27 He who spares his words has knowledge (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 17:26
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