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 17:12
Lexham English Bible
12 May a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring
and not a fool in his folly.
Proverbs 23:9
International Standard Version
9 Don’t speak when a fool is listening,
because he’ll despise your wise words.
Proverbs 23:9
Lexham English Bible
9 In the ears of a fool do not speak,
for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
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 26:4-11
Lexham English Bible
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly
lest you become like him—even you.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
7 Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like binding a stone in a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
11 Like a dog returning to his vomit
is a fool reverting to his folly.
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 27:22
Lexham English Bible
22 If you crush a fool in the mortar with the pestle along with[a] the crushed grain,
it will not drive folly from upon him.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:22 Or “in the midst of”
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.
Proverbs 29:9
Lexham English Bible
9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,
then there is rankling and ridicule,[a] but there is no relief.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:9 Hebrew “there is ridicule”
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