Proverbs 23:9
New International Version
Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

New Living Translation
Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.

English Standard Version
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

King James Bible
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

New King James Version
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

New American Standard Bible
Do not speak to be heard by a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

NASB 1995
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

NASB 1977
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the insight of your speech.

Amplified Bible
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the [godly] wisdom of your words.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

American Standard Version
Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Do not speak in front of a fool because he despises your words.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.

Contemporary English Version
Don't talk to fools--they will make fun of you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak not in the ears of fools: because they will despise the instruction of thy speech.

English Revised Version
Speak not in the hearing of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not talk directly to a fool, because he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Good News Translation
Don't try to talk sense to a fool; he can't appreciate it.

International Standard Version
Don't speak when a fool is listening, because he'll despise your wise words.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Speak not in the ears of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Literal Standard Version
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, | For he treads on the wisdom of your words.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

New American Bible
Do not speak in the hearing of fools; they will despise the wisdom of your words.

NET Bible
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words.

New Heart English Bible
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Webster's Bible Translation
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

World English Bible
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Young's Literal Translation
In the ears of a fool speak not, For he treadeth on the wisdom of thy words.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
True Riches
8You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,…

Cross References
Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 9:7
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

Proverbs 14:7
Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.


Treasury of Scripture

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

speak

Proverbs 9:7,8
He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot…

Proverbs 26:4,5
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him…

Isaiah 36:21
But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

he

Luke 16:14
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

John 8:52
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

John 9:30-34,40
The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes…

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Proverbs 23
1. Consider carefully what is before you














(9) Speak not in the ears of a fool.--Do not waste thy time in explaining matters to him.

A fool.--A dull, stupid person. (Comp. Proverbs 1:22.)

Verse 9. - Here is another case in which "sweet words" are lost. Speak not in the ears of a fool. This does not mean, as it would in our English phrase - whisper not to a fool; but do not take the trouble to try to make him understand, impart nothing to him. The "fool" here (kesil) is the dull, stolid, stupid man. who cannot be moved from his own narrow groove (see on Proverbs 1:22). It is a mere casting of pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) to speak to such a man of high aims, righteous motives, self-sacrifice (comp. Proverbs 9:8). He will despise the wisdom of thy words. He cannot enter into the meaning of words of wisdom; he has no appetite for them, he cannot assimilate them; and in his self-satisfied dulness he feels for them nothing but contempt (Ecclus. 22:7, etc., "Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep. He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: whey he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?")

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

speak
תְּדַבֵּ֑ר (tə·ḏab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to a fool,
כְ֭סִיל (ḵə·sîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he will despise
יָ֝ב֗וּז (yā·ḇūz)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 936: To disrespect

the wisdom
לְשֵׂ֣כֶל (lə·śê·ḵel)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7922: Intelligence, success

of your words.
מִלֶּֽיךָ׃ (mil·le·ḵā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4405: A word, a discourse, a topic


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 23:9 Don't speak in the ears (Prov. Pro Pr)
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