Proverbs 17:27 - Exposition

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' ( Proverbs 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 ἢ λαλεῖν ἂ 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.