Proverbs 23:9 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

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

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

Speak not in the ears of a fool: For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

Speak not in the ears of a [self-confident] fool, for he will despise the [godly] Wisdom of your words. [Isa. 32:6.]

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

Don’t speak in the ears of fools, for they will scorn your insightful words.

Catholic Public Domain Version

Do not speak into the ears of the unwise. They will despise the doctrine of your eloquence.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

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

Proverbs 23:9 Cross References

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 14:7

Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not find words of knowledge.

Isaiah 36:21

But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

Luke 16:14

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him.

John 10:20

Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?”

John 8:52

The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’

John 9:40

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”

Acts 17:18

Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, “What does this pretentious babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities.” (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)

Acts 17:32

When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”