Proverbs 17:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(A)
Proverbs 17:12
International Standard Version
12 It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs
than a fool in his stupidity.
Proverbs 23:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
who will only despise the wisdom of your words.(A)
Proverbs 23:9
International Standard Version
9 Don’t speak when a fool is listening,
because he’ll despise your wise words.
Proverbs 26:4-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you be a fool yourself.(A)
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they be wise in their own eyes.(B)
6 It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,
to send a message by a fool.
7 The legs of a lame person hang limp;
so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(C)
8 It is like binding a stone in a sling
to give honor to a fool.(D)
9 Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(E)
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
is a fool who reverts to his folly.(F)
Footnotes
- 26.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Proverbs 26:4-11
International Standard Version
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness,
or you will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness,
or he will think himself to be wise.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own[a] feet and drinks violence.
7 Useless legs to the lame—
that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
8 Tying a stone to a sling—
that’s what giving honor to a fool is.
9 A thorn in the hand of a drunkard—
that’s what a proverb quoted by a fool is.
10 An archer who shoots at anyone—
is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.
11 A dog that returns to its vomit
is like a fool who reverts to his folly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:6 The Heb. lacks his own
Proverbs 27:22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
along with crushed grain,
but the folly will not be driven out.(A)
Proverbs 27:22
International Standard Version
22 Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle
as someone might crush grain,
his stupidity still won’t leave him.
Proverbs 29:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 If the wise go to law with fools,
there is ranting and ridicule without relief.
Proverbs 29:9
International Standard Version
9 When a wise man has a dispute with a fool,
the fool either rages or laughs without relief.
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