Proverbs 18:13
New International Version
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.

New Living Translation
Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

English Standard Version
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Berean Standard Bible
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

King James Bible
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

New King James Version
He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

New American Standard Bible
One who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him.

NASB 1995
He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

NASB 1977
He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who responds with a word before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

Amplified Bible
He who answers before he hears [the facts]— It is folly and shame to him.

Christian Standard Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens — this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens— this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

American Standard Version
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He that gives an answer before he hears is a fool, and is brought to shame.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whoso answers a word before he hears a cause, it is folly and reproach to him.

Contemporary English Version
It's stupid and embarrassing to give an answer before you listen.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

English Revised Version
He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.

Good News Translation
Listen before you answer. If you don't, you are being stupid and insulting.

International Standard Version
Whoever answers before listening is both foolish and shameful.

JPS Tanakh 1917
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and confusion unto him.

Literal Standard Version
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, | It is folly to him—and shame.

Majority Standard Bible
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

New American Bible
Whoever answers before listening, theirs is folly and shame.

NET Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens--that is his folly and his shame.

New Revised Standard Version
If one gives answer before hearing, it is folly and shame.

New Heart English Bible
He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him.

World English Bible
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. 13He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him. 14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?…

Cross References
John 7:51
"Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?"

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.


Treasury of Scripture

He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

that

Deuteronomy 13:14
Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;

2 Samuel 16:4
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

2 Samuel 19:24-30
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace…

answereth a matter; returneth a word.

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Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














(13) He that answereth a matter before he heareth it . . .--Comp. Ecclesiasticus 11:8.

Verse 13. - He that answereth a matter, etc. Thus Ecclus. 11:8, "Answer not before thou hast heard the, cause; neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk." A reminiscence of the passage occurs in the Talmud ('Aboth.' 5. 10), "I weighed all things in the balance, and found nothing lighter than meal; lighter than meal is the betrothed man who dwells in the house of his intended father-in-law; lighter than he is a guest who introduces a friend; and lighter than he is the man who answers before he has heard the other's speech" (Dukes, p. 72, § 21). So Menander -

Ὁ προκαταγιγνώσκων δὲ πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι σαφῶς
Αὐτὸς πονηρός ἐστι πιστεύσας κακῶς. Seneca, 'Medea,' 199 -

"Qui statuit aliquid, parte inaudita altera,
AEquum licet statuerit, haud aequus erit."


Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who answers
מֵשִׁ֣יב (mê·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

a matter
דָּ֭בָר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

before
בְּטֶ֣רֶם (bə·ṭe·rem)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 2962: Non-occurrence, not yet, before

he hears [it]—
יִשְׁמָ֑ע (yiš·mā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

this
הִיא־ (hî-)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

[is] folly
אִוֶּ֥לֶת (’iw·we·leṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 200: Silliness

and disgrace
וּכְלִמָּֽה׃ (ū·ḵə·lim·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3639: Insult, reproach, ignominy

to him.
ל֝֗וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:13 He who gives answer before he hears (Prov. Pro Pr)
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