New English Translation
Proverbs 18:13
13The one who gives an answer before he listens – that is his folly and his shame.
Proverbs 18:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- New International Version (NIV)To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.
Context of Proverbs 18:13
11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination. 12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor. The one who gives an answer before he listens – that is his folly and his shame. 14A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness – but who can bear a crushed spirit? 15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:13 word by word
מֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:13
- Deuteronomy 13:14You must investigate thoroughly and inquire carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done among you,
- 2 Samuel 16:4The king said to Ziba, “Everything that was Mephibosheth’s now belongs to you.” Ziba replied, “I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
- 2 Samuel 19:24Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, came down to meet the king. From the day the king had left until the day he safely returned, Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes.
- Esther 3:10So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who was hostile toward the Jews.
- Esther 8:5She said, “If the king is so inclined and if I have met with his approval and if the matter is agreeable to the king and if I am attractive to him, let an edict be written rescinding those recorded intentions of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote in order to destroy the Jews who are throughout all the king’s provinces.
- Job 29:16I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;
- Daniel 6:9So King Darius issued the written interdict.
- John 7:51“Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?”
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13He that answereth a matter - This is a common case; before a man can tell out his story, another will begin his. Before a man has made his response, the other wishes to confute piecemeal, though he has had his own speech already. This is foolishness to them. They are ill-bred. There are many also that give judgment before they hear the whole of the cause, and express an opinion before they hear the state of the case. How absurd, stupid, and foolish!Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 Eagerness, with self-conceit, will expose to shame.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame (Pr 26:12).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 18
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries