Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous considers ¹  how ²  to answer, ³  but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. ⁴ 

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The godly think before speaking; the wicked spout evil words.

Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse.

The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.

The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

The heart of the righteous considers ¹  how ²  to answer, ³  but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. ⁴ 

¹ tn The verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh) means “to muse; to meditate; to consider; to study.” It also involves planning, such as with the wicked “planning” a vain thing (Ps 2:1, which is contrasted with the righteous who “meditate” in the law [1:2]).

² tn The word “how” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tc The LXX reads: “the hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness.”

sn The advice of the proverb is to say less but better things. The wise – here called the righteous – are cautious in how they respond to others. They think about it (heart = mind) before speaking.

⁴ sn The form is plural. What they say (the “mouth” is a metonymy of cause) is any range of harmful things.