Raised by a single mother who wore her heart on her sleeve, spoke her mind freely and often said “I gotta be me”, I have these tendencies and struggle to “shut up”

After Jeremiah 29:11, this is my new favorite.

"Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” - Proverbs 17:27 ESV

I take small exception to the use of the word “knowledge” in this verse, I would prefer the word wisdom, to my mind “knowledge” implies information, while wisdom implies something more, an understanding, thought beforehand, practice and training.

The phrase “…a cool spirit…” feels out of place in a bible verse to me, the language is too “modern” I like the tone of Old English for scripture. I take “…a cool spirit…” to imply not easily provoked, not easily riled or angered.

The King James version has a different feel to it:

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”

In both verses there is the use of the word “knowledge”, but it appears to me that the structure is reversed between the two, “restrains his words has knowledge” ESV versus ‘has knowledge, spares words.” KJV.

I take the KJV to imply that possession of “knowledge”(read information)causes one to spare words, aka ST*U, almost as in a business negotiation. While ESV seems to indicate that restraining your words gives you knowledge(read information), which to my mind is a non-sequitor, restraining your words does not gain you greater information.

Your thoughts or opinions?

u/Red-Curious: I believe in the truth of the phrase "A word to the wise is sufficient" Therefore, in my mind, a simple quote would not be low effort.

“Verbum sapienti satis est”

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-origin-and-meaning-of-the-phrase-a-word-to-the-wise

Thanks and respect to all here.