1 Kings 20:11
 1 Kings 20:11 
New International Version (©2011)
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.'"

New Living Translation (©2007)
The king of Israel sent back this answer: "A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won."

English Standard Version (©2001)
And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.'"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The king of Israel answered, "Say this: 'Don't let the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.'"

International Standard Version (©2012)
But the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'The one who is starting to strap on his battle armor should never brag like the one who is taking it off.'"

NET Bible (©2006)
The king of Israel replied, "Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The king of Israel answered, "The saying goes, 'Don't brag about a victory before you have even dressed for battle.'"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girds on his armor boast himself as he that puts it off.

American King James Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girds on his harness boast himself as he that puts it off.

American Standard Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king of Israel answering, said: Tell him: Let not the girded boast himself as the ungirded.

Darby Bible Translation
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on boast himself as he that putteth off!

English Revised Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armour boast himself as he that putteth it off.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

World English Bible
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'Don't let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.'"

Young's Literal Translation
And the king of Israel answereth and saith, 'Speak ye: let not him who is girding on boast himself as him who is loosing his armour.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:1-11 Benhadad sent Ahab a very insolent demand. Ahab sent a very disgraceful submission; sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of the Divine protection. If God do not rule us, our enemies shall: guilt dispirits men, and makes them cowards. Ahab became desperate. Men will part with their most pleasant things, those they most love, to save their lives; yet they lose their souls rather than part with any pleasure or interest to prevent it. Here is one of the wisest sayings that ever Ahab spake, and it is a good lesson to all. It is folly to boast of any day to come, since we know not what it may bring forth. Apply it to our spiritual conflicts. Peter fell by self-confidence. Happy is the man who is never off his watch.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him Let not him that girdeth on his harness bout himself as he that putteth it off. [This proverb consists of four words in the Hebrew. The commentators cite the Latin, Ne triumphum canas ante victoriam, but proverbs to the same effect are found in most languages.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Very mildly and very wisely:

tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off; that is, he that prepares for the battle as he that has got the victory; the sense is, let no man triumph before the battle is over and the victory won; the events of war are uncertain; the battle is not always to the strong.


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Ahab's Wars with Syria
10And Benhadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. 11And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girds on his harness boast himself as he that puts it off. 12And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,
Jeremiah 46:17 There they will exclaim, 'Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.'