90 Heb “the one knowing knowledge.” The cognate accusative underscores the meaning of the participle—this is a truly knowledgeable person.
91 The participle חוֹשֵׂךְ (khosekh) means “withholds; restrains; refrains; spares; holds in check,” etc. One who has knowledge speaks carefully.
92 Heb “cool of spirit.” This genitive of specification describes one who is “calm” (so , , ) or “even-tempered” (so , ); he is composed.
93 The imperfect tense here denotes possibility: One who holds his tongue [may be considered] discerning.
94 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 [], ). He does not, of course, become wise—he just hides his folly.

In other versions

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;

when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,

and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,

and discerning if they hold their tongues.

The one who has knowledge restrains his words,

and one who keeps a cool head

is a person of understanding.

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—

discerning, when he seals his lips.

A truly wise person uses few words;

a person with understanding is even-tempered.

Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;

with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

He who spares his sayings knows knowledge,

and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise;

he who closes his lips is intelligent.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words:

And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:

And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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