Job 13:5

13:5 If only you would keep completely silent! ¹ 

For you, that would be wisdom. ² 

Proverbs 17:28

17:28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered ³  wise,

and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. ⁴ 

Amos 5:13

5:13 For this reason whoever is smart ⁵  keeps quiet ⁶  in such a time,

for it is an evil ⁷  time.

James 1:19

Living Out the Message

1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! ⁸  Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

[13:5]  ¹ tn The construction is the imperfect verb in the wish formula preceded by the infinitive that intensifies it. The Hiphil is not directly causative here, but internally – “keep silent.”

[13:5]  ² tn The text literally reads, “and it would be for you for wisdom,” or “that it would become your wisdom.” Job is rather sarcastic here, indicating if they shut up they would prove themselves to be wise (see Prov 17:28).

[17:28]  ³ tn The imperfect tense here denotes possibility: One who holds his tongue [may be considered] discerning.

[17:28]  ⁴ tn The Niphal participle is used in the declarative/estimative sense with stative verbs: “to be discerning” (Qal) becomes “to be declared discerning” (Niphal). The proverb is teaching that silence is one evidence of wisdom, and that even a fool can thereby appear wise. D. Kidner says that a fool who takes this advice is no longer a complete fool (Proverbs [TOTC], 127). He does not, of course, become wise – he just hides his folly.

[5:13]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ 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.

[1:19]  ⁸ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.