Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- KJV Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
- NKJV Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- NASB ¶Do not speak to be heard by a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- NLT Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
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
Do not waste wisdom on a fool, for he will only scorn your words.
Overview
A fool here is not merely unintelligent but morally resistant, despising correction and insight. Speaking wisdom to such a person yields contempt rather than change. Jesus gave similar counsel not to cast pearls before those who will only trample them (Matt. 7:6), teaching discernment in how truth is shared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 9:7–8He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Matt 7:6Do 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.
- Prov 26:4–5Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
- Prov 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Acts 28:25–28They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
- Acts 13:45–46But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- John 10:20Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
- Isa 36:21But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
- John 8:52“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
- 1 Cor 1:21–24For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
- Acts 17:32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”
- John 9:30–34“That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.
- Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
- Acts 17:18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
- John 9:40Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
- 1 Cor 4:10–13We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
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 23:9 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.