Proverbs 17:12
English Standard Version
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
English Standard Version
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
for he will despise the good sense of your words.
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
English Standard Version
4 (A)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 (B)Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be (C)wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and (D)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 (E)one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like (F)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 everyone
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (G)a dog that returns to his vomit
is (H)a fool who repeats his folly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby
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
English Standard Version
22 (A)Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
along with crushed grain,
yet his folly will not depart from him.
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
English Standard Version
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (A)no quiet.
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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.