Proverbs 17:12
Good News Translation
It is better to meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs than to meet some fool busy with a stupid project.

New Revised Standard Version
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly.

Contemporary English Version
A bear robbed of her cubs is far less dangerous than a stubborn fool.

New American Bible
Face a bear robbed of her cubs, but never fools in their folly!

Douay-Rheims Bible
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

a bear

Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the poor people.

2 Samuel 17:8 And again Chusai said: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that are with him, that they are very valiant, and bitter in their mind, as a bear raging in the wood when her whelps are taken away: and thy father is a warrior, and will not lodge with the people.

2 Kings 2:24 And looking back, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord: and there came forth two bears out of the forest, and tore of them, two and forty boys.

Hosea 13:8 I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them.

rather

Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is heavier than them both.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the menchildren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Context
Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness
11An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him. 12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.13He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.…
Cross References
2 Samuel 17:8
And again Chusai said: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that are with him, that they are very valiant, and bitter in their mind, as a bear raging in the wood when her whelps are taken away: and thy father is a warrior, and will not lodge with the people.

Proverbs 17:11
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry, or laugh, he shall find no rest.

Hosea 13:8
I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them.

Proverbs 17:11
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