Proverbs 29:11

A fool lets fly with all his temper, ¹  but a wise person keeps it back. ² 

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.

A fool gives full vent to anger, but a wise person quietly holds it back.

A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.

A foolish man lets out all his wrath, but a wise man keeps it back quietly.

A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.

A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

A fool lets fly with all his temper, ¹  but a wise person keeps it back. ² 

¹ tn Heb “his spirit.” It has been commonly interpreted to mean “his anger” (ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV), but it probably means more than that. The fool gives full expression to his “soul,” whether it is anger or bitterness or frustration or any other emotions. He has no self-control.

² tn The line is difficult. The MT has בְּאחוֹר יְשַׁבְּחֶנָּה (bÿ’khor yÿshabbÿkhennah), which literally means “steals it back.” The verb שָׁבַח (shavakh) means “to soothe; to still,” as with a storm, or here with the temper. But because אָחוֹר (’akhor) does not fit very well with this verb, most commentators offer some suggested change. C. H. Toy reads “anger” instead of “back” and translates the verb “restrain” following the LXX, which has “self-control” (Proverbs [ICC], 510). The idea of self-control is what is intended, but the changes suggested are not entirely warranted. A number of English versions have “holds it back” (e.g., NASB, NRSV, NLT), and this fits the Hebrew as well as any.