Proverbs 17:12

Modern

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Traditional

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Literal

Let meet a bear robbed of her cubs with a man, and not a fool in his folly.

Latin

Expedit magis ursæ occurrere raptis fœtibus, quam fatuo confidenti in stultitia sua.

Hebrew

English

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

This saying warns against teaching fools. A fool stuck in foolishness may respond with anger and violence.

2 Samuel 17:8
He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.
Hosea 13:8
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.
Proverbs 28:15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
2 Kings 2:24
Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.