Proverbs 10:8

The wise person ¹  accepts instructions, ²  but the one who speaks foolishness ³  will come to ruin. ⁴ 

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined.

The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.

The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.

The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.

The wise person ¹  accepts instructions, ²  but the one who speaks foolishness ³  will come to ruin. ⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “the wise of heart” (so NASB, NRSV). The genitive noun לֵב (lev, “heart”) functions as an attributive adjective: “the wise heart.” The term לֵב functions as a synecdoche of part (= heart) for the whole person (= person). The heart is emphasized because it is the seat of wisdom (BDB 524 s.v. 3.b).

² tn Heb “commandments.”

³ tn Heb “fool of lips.” The phrase is a genitive of specification: “a fool in respect to lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause (= lips) for effect (= speech). This person talks foolishness; he is too busy talking to pay attention to instruction.

⁴ tn The Niphal verb לָבַט (lavat) means “to be thrust down [or, away]”; that is, “to be ruined; to fall” or “to stumble” (e.g., Hos 4:14). The fool who refuses to listen to advice – but abides by his own standards which he freely expresses – will suffer the predicaments that he creates.