Job 13:5

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

O that you would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

American King James Version (AKJV)

O that you would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

American Standard Version (ASV)

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!

Webster's Revision

O that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom.

World English Bible

Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

English Revised Version (ERV)

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

Clarke's Job 13:5 Bible Commentary

Hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom - In Proverbs 17:28 we have the following apophtheym: "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips, a man of understanding." There is no reason to say that Solomon quotes from Job: I have already expressed my opinion that the high antiquity attributed to this book is perfectly unfounded, and that there is much more evidence that Solomon was its author, than there is that it was the composition of Moses. But, whenever Job 54ed, whether before Abraham or after Moses, the book was not written till the time of Solomon, if not later. But as to the saying in question, it is a general apophthegm, and may be found among the wise sayings of all nations. I may observe here, that a silent man is not likely to be a fool; for a fool will be always prating, or, according to another adage, a fool's bolt is soon shot. The Latins have the same proverb: Vir sapit, qui pauca loquitur, "A wise man speaks little."

Barnes's Job 13:5 Bible Commentary

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! - You would show your wisdom by silence. Since you can say nothing that is adapted to give comfort, or to explain the true state of the case, it would be wise to say nothing; compare Proverbs 17:28 : "Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise."