Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 23:9
9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will disdain the wisdom of your words.
Proverbs 23:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Context of Proverbs 23:9
7For as he thinks within himself, so is he. “Eat and drink”, he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8You will vomit up the morsel you ate, and will waste your pleasant words. Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will disdain the wisdom of your words. 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or encroach on fields of the fatherless, 11for their redeemer is strong. He will plead their case against you.
Read all of Proverbs 23Proverbs 23:9 word by word
בְּאָזְנֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל אַל־תְּדַבֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־יָ֝ב֗וּז לְשֵׂ֣כֶל מִלֶּֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 23:9
- Proverbs 9:7Whoever corrects a scoffer is asking for insult. Whoever reproves a wicked man gets abuse.
- Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, else you also will be like him.
- Isaiah 36:21But they were silent, and did not answer him a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”
- Matthew 7:6“Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet, then turn and rip you to shreds.
- Acts 13:45When the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and tried to contradict what Paul was saying by reviling him.
- Acts 28:25So when they disagreed among themselves, they began leaving after Paul had said one last statement: “The Ruach ha-Kodesh rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
- Luke 16:14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and sneering at Yeshua.
- John 8:52“Now we know You have a demon!” the Judean leaders said to Him. “Abraham and the prophets died. Yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death.’
- John 9:30The man replied to them, “That’s amazing! You don’t know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes!
- John 10:20Many of them were saying, “He has a demon. He’s insane! Why listen to Him?”
- Acts 17:18Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What’s this babbler trying to say?” while others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities”—because he was proclaiming the Good News of Yeshua and the resurrection.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21For seeing that—in God’s wisdom—the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased—through the foolishness of the message proclaimed—to save those who believe.
- 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in Messiah! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored!
Commentaries on Proverbs 23:9
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The “fool” here is one willfully and persistently deaf to it, almost identical with the scorner.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9Verse 9 It is our duty to take all fit occasions to speak of Divine things; but if what a wise man says will not be heard, let him hold his peace.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Saying 9: Fools do not listen to advice (compare Proverbs 9:7–12; 10:18), so wise people do not waste their words (see Matthew 7:6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. (Compare Pr 9:8). "Cast not your pearls before swine" (Mt 7:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 23:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 23
- 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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