Even a fool who remains silent is considered ¹  wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. ² 

biblegateway Pro 17:28

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips.

Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.

biblegateway Pro 17:28

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

bibleoremus Pro 17:28

Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.

Even a fool, if he keeps his mouth shut, will seem wise; if he holds his tongue, he will seem intelligent.

biblegateway Pro 17:28

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.

biblegateway Pro 17:28

Even a fool who remains silent is considered ¹  wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. ² 

¹ tn The imperfect tense here denotes possibility: One who holds his tongue [may be considered] discerning.

² 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.