Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 9 Holy Bible
Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in ASV
Say nothing in the hearing of a foolish man, for he will put no value on the wisdom of your words.
read chapter 23 in BBE
Speak not in the ears of a foolish [man], for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in DARBY
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in KJV
read chapter 23 in WBT
Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
read chapter 23 in WEB
In the ears of a fool speak not, For he treadeth on the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 9. - Here is another case in which "sweet words" are lost. Speak not in the ears of a fool. This does not mean, as it would in our English phrase - whisper not to a fool; but do not take the trouble to try to make him understand, impart nothing to him. The "fool" here (kesil) is the dull, stolid, stupid man. who cannot be moved from his own narrow groove (see on Proverbs 1:22). It is a mere casting of pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) to speak to such a man of high aims, righteous motives, self-sacrifice (comp. Proverbs 9:8). He will despise the wisdom of thy words. He cannot enter into the meaning of words of wisdom; he has no appetite for them, he cannot assimilate them; and in his self-satisfied dulness he feels for them nothing but contempt (Ecclus. 22:7, etc., "Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep. He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: whey he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?")
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) Speak not in the ears of a fool.--Do not waste thy time in explaining matters to him.A fool.--A dull, stupid person. (Comp. Proverbs 1:22.)