Proverbs 23:9 - Revised Standard Version (RSV-CI)

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will 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 meet 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 dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.

Luke 16:14

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

John 10:20

Many of them said, “He has a demon, and he is mad; why listen to him?”

John 8:52

The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.’

John 9:40

Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, “Are we also blind?”

Acts 17:18

Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, “What would this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

Acts 17:32

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”