Proverbs 17:28 (DBY)

Passage

Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:26 To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.

Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "even", "fool", "holdeth", "peace", "reckoned", "wise", "shutteth", and "lips". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "even" and "fool", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "He that hath knowledge spareth his words...", giving immediate footing for "even" and "fool". In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "even" and "fool" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.