God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 30:32
32If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself, or if you scheme, you had better put your hand over your mouth.
Proverbs 30:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
- New International Version (NIV)“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!
- English Standard Version (ESV)If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Context of Proverbs 30:32
30a lion, mightiest among animals, which turns away from nothing, 31a strutting rooster, a male goat, a king at the head of his army. If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself, or if you scheme, you had better put your hand over your mouth. 33As churning milk produces butter and punching a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces a fight.
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:32 word by word
אִם־נָבַ֥לְתָּ בְהִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א וְאִם־זַ֝מּ֗וֹתָ יָ֣ד לְפֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 30:32
- Proverbs 26:12Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Ecclesiastes 8:3Don’t be in a hurry to leave the king’s service. Don’t take part in something evil, because he can do whatever he pleases.
- Proverbs 17:28Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.
- Job 21:5Look at me, and be shocked, and put ⌞your⌟ hand over ⌞your⌟ mouth.
- Job 40:4“I’m so insignificant. How can I answer you? I will put my hand over my mouth.
- Ecclesiastes 8:4Since a king’s word has such power, no one can ask him what he is doing.
- Micah 7:16Nations will see this and be ashamed in spite of all their strength. They will put their hands over their mouths. Their ears will become deaf.
- Romans 3:19We know that whatever the Scriptures say applies to everyone under their influence, and no one can say a thing. The whole world is brought under the judgment of God.
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32If thou hast done foolishly - And who has not, at one time or other of his life? Lay thine hand upon thy mouth - Like the leper; and cry to God, Unclean! unclean! and keep silence to all besides. God will blot out thy offense, and neither the world nor the Church ever know it, for he is merciful; and man is rarely able to pass by a sin committed by his fellows, especially if it be one to which himself is by nature not liable or inclined.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32Lay thine hand upon thy mouth - The act expresses the silence of humiliation and repentance after the sin has been committed, and that of self-restraint, which checks the haughty or malignant thought before it has passed even into words.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-33Verses 29-33 We may learn from animals to go well; also to keep our temper under all provocations. We must keep the evil thought in our minds from breaking out into evil speeches. We must not stir up the passions of others. Let nothing be said or done with violence, but every thing with softness and calmness. Alas, how often have we done foolishly in rising up against the Lord our King! Let us humble ourselves before him. And having found peace with Him…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. As none can hope, successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an attempt. lay ... hand upon thy mouth--"lay" is well supplied (Jud 18:19; Job 29:9; 40:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 30
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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