Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
Parallel translations
- WEB Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
- KJV Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
- BSB Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
- NASB Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
- NLT Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Stay away from a foolish man, for his lips offer no real knowledge. Avoid prolonged company that yields no wisdom.
Overview
This practical counsel advises leaving the presence of a fool, since one will gain nothing of value from his speech. It complements the broader biblical wisdom about choosing companions who build us up. While believers are to seek the lost, this proverb warns against being shaped by foolish influence rather than shaping it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Prov 13:20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
- 1 Cor 5:11But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.
- Prov 9:6Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
- Eph 5:11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
- Prov 19:27If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 14:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.