Ecclesiastes 3:7

3:7 A time to rip, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.

Amos 5:13

5:13 For this reason whoever is smart ¹  keeps quiet ²  in such a time,

for it is an evil ³  time.

Micah 7:5

7:5 Do not rely on a friend;

do not trust a companion!

Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms! ⁴ 

Matthew 10:16

Persecution of Disciples

10:16 “I ⁵  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ⁶  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

[5:13]  ¹ tn Or “the wise”; or “the prudent.” Another option is to translate “the successful, prosperous” and understand this as a reference to the rich oppressors. See G. V. Smith, Amos, 169-70. In this case the following verb will also have a different nuance, that is, the wealthy remain silent before the abuses they perpetuate. See the note on the verb translated “keeps quiet” later in this verse.

[5:13]  ² tn Or “moans, laments,” from a homonymic verbal root. If the rich oppressors are in view, then the verb (whether translated “will be silenced” or “will lament”) describes the result of God’s judgment upon them. See G. V. Smith, Amos, 170.

[5:13]  ³ tn If this is a judgment announcement against the rich, then the Hebrew phrase עֵת רָעָה (’et ra’ah) must be translated, “[a] disastrous time.” See G. V. Smith, Amos, 170.

[7:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the one who lies in your arms, guard the doors of your mouth.”

[10:16]  ⁵ tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[10:16]  ⁶ sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.