Passage

Proverbs 12.17

Book: Proverbs · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV

15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel. 16. A fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.

17. He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.

There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health. 19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment. (Proverbs 12:15-19, ASV)

WEB

15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel. 16. A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

17. He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.

There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals. 19. Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary. (Proverbs 12:15-19, WEB)

KJV

15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 16. A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. ^{presently: Heb. in that day}

17. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. 19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (Proverbs 12:15-19, KJV)

YLT

15. The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel [is] wise. 16. The fool, in a day is his anger known, And the prudent is covering shame.

17. Whoso uttereth faithfulness declareth righteousness, And a false witness, deceit.

A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing. 19. The lip of truth is established for ever, And for a moment, a tongue of falsehood. (Proverbs 12:15-19, YLT)

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Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

H0530 - emunah, emunah, Strong's H0530
H6664 - tzedeq, tzedeq, Strong's H6664

Quoted in

Lexicon:

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.