Proverbs 17:12
Revised Standard Version
12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs,
rather than a fool in his folly.
Proverbs 17:12
New International Version
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(A)
Proverbs 23:9
Revised Standard Version
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Proverbs 23:9
New International Version
Saying 10
9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.(A)
Proverbs 26:4-11
Revised Standard Version
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool that repeats his folly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:10 The Hebrew text of this verse is uncertain
Proverbs 26:4-11
New International Version
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(A)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(B)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(C)
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(D)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(E)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(F)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(G)
so fools repeat their folly.(H)
Proverbs 27:22
Revised Standard Version
22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
along with crushed grain,
yet his folly will not depart from him.
Proverbs 27:22
New International Version
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
Proverbs 29:9
Revised Standard Version
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
Proverbs 29:9
New International Version
9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.