Proverbs 23:9
◄Do not waste time by/It is useless► talking to foolish people; they will only despise the wise things that you say.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
In Context
Cross References
Proverbs 1:7If you want to be wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh. Only foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.
Proverbs 9:8Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to ◄correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong►, because he will hate you for doing that. But if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
Isaiah 36:21But the people who were listening were silent. No one said anything, because King Hezekiah had commanded, “ When the official from Assyria talks to you, do not answer him.”
Luke 16:14There were some Pharisees there. They loved to acquire money. When they heard Jesus say that, they ridiculed him.
John 9:30The man replied, “That is very surprising! You say that you do not know where he gets any authority. But he enabled me to see!
John 10:20Many of them said, “A demon is controlling him and has caused him to become crazy. ◄It is useless to listen to him!/Why should we listen to him?► [RHQ]”
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 23:7-9
6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. Those that are voluptuous and given to appetite ( v. 2 ) are glad to be where there is good cheer stirring, and those that are covetous and saving, that they may spare at home, will be glad to get a dinner at another man's table; and… Read the whole commentary →