Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words. New Living Translation Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. English Standard Version Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. Berean Standard Bible Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. King James Bible Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. New King James Version Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. New American Standard Bible Do not speak to be heard by a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. NASB 1995 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. NASB 1977 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. Legacy Standard Bible Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the insight of your speech. Amplified Bible Do not speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the [godly] wisdom of your words. Christian Standard Bible Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words. Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words. American Standard Version Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Do not speak in front of a fool because he despises your words. Brenton Septuagint Translation Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words. Contemporary English Version Don't talk to fools--they will make fun of you. Douay-Rheims Bible Speak not in the ears of fools: because they will despise the instruction of thy speech. English Revised Version Speak not in the hearing of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. GOD'S WORD® Translation Do not talk directly to a fool, because he will despise the wisdom of your words. Good News Translation Don't try to talk sense to a fool; he can't appreciate it. International Standard Version Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words. JPS Tanakh 1917 Speak not in the ears of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Literal Standard Version Do not speak in the ears of a fool, | For he treads on the wisdom of your words. Majority Standard Bible Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. New American Bible Do not speak in the hearing of fools; they will despise the wisdom of your words. NET Bible Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. New Revised Standard Version Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words. New Heart English Bible Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Webster's Bible Translation Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. World English Bible Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Young's Literal Translation In the ears of a fool speak not, For he treadeth on the wisdom of thy words. Additional Translations ... Context True Riches…8You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,… Cross References Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 9:7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. Proverbs 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. Treasury of Scripture Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words. speak Proverbs 9:7,8 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot… Proverbs 26:4,5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him… Isaiah 36:21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. he Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. John 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. John 9:30-34,40 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes… Jump to Previous Despise Ears Fool Foolish Hearing Scorn Speak Treadeth Value Wisdom WordsJump to Next Despise Ears Fool Foolish Hearing Scorn Speak Treadeth Value Wisdom WordsProverbs 23 1. Consider carefully what is before you(9) Speak not in the ears of a fool.--Do not waste thy time in explaining matters to him. A fool.--A dull, stupid person. (Comp. Proverbs 1:22.) Verse 9. - Here is another case in which "sweet words" are lost. Speak not in the ears of a fool. This does not mean, as it would in our English phrase - whisper not to a fool; but do not take the trouble to try to make him understand, impart nothing to him. The "fool" here (kesil) is the dull, stolid, stupid man. who cannot be moved from his own narrow groove (see on Proverbs 1:22). It is a mere casting of pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) to speak to such a man of high aims, righteous motives, self-sacrifice (comp. Proverbs 9:8). He will despise the wisdom of thy words. He cannot enter into the meaning of words of wisdom; he has no appetite for them, he cannot assimilate them; and in his self-satisfied dulness he feels for them nothing but contempt (Ecclus. 22:7, etc., "Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep. He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: whey he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?")Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not speak תְּדַבֵּ֑ר (tə·ḏab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue to a fool, כְ֭סִיל (ḵə·sîl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he will despise יָ֝ב֗וּז (yā·ḇūz) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 936: To disrespect the wisdom לְשֵׂ֣כֶל (lə·śê·ḵel) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7922: Intelligence, success of your words. מִלֶּֽיךָ׃ (mil·le·ḵā) Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4405: A word, a discourse, a topic Links Proverbs 23:9 NIVProverbs 23:9 NLT Proverbs 23:9 ESV Proverbs 23:9 NASB Proverbs 23:9 KJV Proverbs 23:9 BibleApps.com Proverbs 23:9 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 23:9 Chinese Bible Proverbs 23:9 French Bible Proverbs 23:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 23:9 Don't speak in the ears (Prov. Pro Pr) |