If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.
Parallel translations
- KJV If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
- BSB If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
- NKJV If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
- NASB When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person, The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
- NLT If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.
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
Trying to settle a dispute with a fool brings only ranting and no resolution. It warns that engaging the foolish in conflict yields no peace.
Overview
The proverb observes that when a wise man contends with a fool in court, the fool only rages or scoffs, so the matter finds no settlement. Folly resists reason and refuses peace. It cautions believers to discern when engagement is fruitless, while still pursuing the peace and gentleness that wisdom from above produces (James 3:17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Prov 26:4Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
- Eccl 10:13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
- Matt 7:6“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
- Matt 11:17–19and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’
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 29:9 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
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