Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 9 Holy Bible

ASV Proverbs 23:9

Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in ASV

BBE Proverbs 23:9

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

DARBY Proverbs 23:9

Speak not in the ears of a foolish [man], for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in DARBY

KJV Proverbs 23:9

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
read chapter 23 in KJV

WBT Proverbs 23:9


read chapter 23 in WBT

WEB Proverbs 23:9

Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
read chapter 23 in WEB

YLT Proverbs 23:9

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.)