New International Version
Proverbs 11:12
12Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
Proverbs 11:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
- New Living Translation (NLT)It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.
Context of Proverbs 11:12
10When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. 11Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. 13A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. 14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
Read all of Proverbs 11Proverbs 11:12 word by word
בָּז־לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ חֲסַר־לֵ֑ב וְאִ֖ישׁ תְּבוּנ֣וֹת יַחֲרִֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 11:12
- Judges 9:27After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek.
- Nehemiah 4:2and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”
- Psalms 123:3Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.
- Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
- Luke 18:9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:
- John 7:48“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?
- Proverbs 10:19Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
- 1 Samuel 10:27But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
- 2 Kings 18:36But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
- 1 Peter 2:23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Commentaries on Proverbs 11:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12He that is void of wisdom - A foolish man is generally abundant in his censures; he dwells on the defects of his neighbor, and is sure to bring them into the most prominent view. But a man of understanding - a prudent, sensible man, hides those defects wherever he can, and puts the most charitable construction on those which he cannot conceal.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12None but the man “void of wisdom” will show contempt for those about him. The wise man, if he cannot admire or praise, will at least know how to be silent.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12Verse 12 A man of understanding does not judge of others by their success.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. despiseth--or, "reviles," a course contrasted with the prudent silence of the wise. holdeth his peace--as if neither hearing nor telling.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 11:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 11
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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