A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
A prudent man concealeth knowledge - not that he grudges to impart his knowledge to others, but he does not obtrude it, nor make a display of it, nor babble out all he knows, in order that he maybe counted wise. But he brings it forth in the fitting time and place.
But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. Trying to make a display of knowledge, it only betrays its foolishness. Fools, wise in their own esteem, babble out everything at random; not wisdom, which they have not, but foolishness, which they have. Proclaiming foolishness is attributed to the fool's heart, not to his mouth; for a fool's heart is in his mouth. He has no sense within. On the contrary, "The month of the wise is in their heart" (Sir 21:26).