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15 Good sense brings favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[a]
16 The shrewd always act prudently
    but the foolish parade folly.[b]
17 A wicked messenger brings on disaster,
    but a trustworthy envoy is a healing remedy.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:15 As the behavior of the wise wins them favor that increases their prosperity, like Abigail with David in 1 Sm 25, so the way (= conduct) of the faithless ruins their lives.
  2. 13:16 Like 12:23 and 15:2, 3, the saying is about revealing and concealing. The wise reveal their wisdom in their actions whereas fools “parade,” spread out their folly for all to see. The verb is used of vendors spreading their wares and of birds spreading their wings.