Translations
Modern
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Traditional
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Literal
Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Latin
In auribus insipientium ne loquaris, qui despicient doctrinam eloquii tui.
Interlinear
Hebrew
English
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Notes
Saying 9: Fools do not listen to advice (compare Proverbs 9:7–12; 10:18), so wise people do not waste their words (see Matthew 7:6).
This section is attributed to a group known as the wise, but their identity is unknown. There is a mention of thirty sayings (Proverbs 22:20). The wisdom sayings that follow can be divided into thirty sections. These sections are similar to an Egyptian work called the Instruction of Amenemope, which is also divided into thirty chapters.