Does 'them' in Prov 14:3 refer to the wise or the foolish?
Proverbs 14:3
ESV - 3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
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Asked October 15 2013
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Josh Cardosi
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Jeffrey Kranz
"Them" refers to the wise. Note the nouns: "fool" (singular) and "wise" (plural in Hebrew). Now note the pronouns: "his" (singular) and "them" (plural). Match the singulars and plurals—"them" refers to "the wise."
JD Abshire
"but the lips of the wise will preserve them." Most times the conjunction "but" is used to make a strong contrast, opposites. Light-good, darkness-evil, in other words. The "flip-side". I strongly believe them is referring to the wise.
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