Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. New Living Translation It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. English Standard Version Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. Berean Standard Bible It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. King James Bible Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. New King James Version Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. New American Standard Bible Let a person meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his foolishness. NASB 1995 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. NASB 1977 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. Legacy Standard Bible Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. Amplified Bible Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly. Christian Standard Bible Better for a person to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness. American Standard Version Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Contemporary English Version A bear robbed of her cubs is far less dangerous than a stubborn fool. English Revised Version Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. GOD'S WORD® Translation Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs than a fool [carried away] with his stupidity. Good News Translation It is better to meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs than to meet some fool busy with a stupid project. International Standard Version It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity. Majority Standard Bible It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. NET Bible It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly. New Heart English Bible Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Webster's Bible Translation Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. World English Bible Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThe meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, "" And—not a fool in his folly. Young's Literal Translation The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly. Smith's Literal Translation A bereaved bear meeting with a, man, and not a fool in his folly. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIt is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly. Catholic Public Domain Version It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly. New American Bible Face a bear robbed of her cubs, but never fools in their folly! New Revised Standard Version Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleMeditation and reverence are suitable for a wise man; but a fool meditates in his folly. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Anxiety and fear fall to a wise man, and to a fool in his insanity. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Brenton Septuagint Translation Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness…11An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.… Cross References 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. 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. Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 2 Peter 2:12 These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. Psalm 7:2 or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me. Jeremiah 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous. Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. / The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. / The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. ... Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Luke 10:3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Psalm 10:9 He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net. Ezekiel 22:25 The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Job 18:4 You who tear yourself in anger—should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place? Isaiah 35:9 No lion will be there, and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk upon it. Treasury of Scripture Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. a bear Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 2 Samuel 17:8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 2 Kings 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. rather Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Jump to Previous Acting Bear Bereaved Better Cubs Face Folly Fool Foolish Foolishly Meet Meeting Ones Rather Robbed She-Bear Whelps YoungJump to Next Acting Bear Bereaved Better Cubs Face Folly Fool Foolish Foolishly Meet Meeting Ones Rather Robbed She-Bear Whelps YoungProverbs 17 1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the WickedIt is better The phrase "It is better" introduces a comparison, suggesting a preference or a more favorable outcome. In Hebrew, the word often used for "better" is "טוֹב" (tov), which conveys goodness, pleasantness, or desirability. This sets the stage for a moral or practical lesson, emphasizing the wisdom in choosing one situation over another. The use of "better" here implies a stark contrast between two scenarios, urging the reader to consider the gravity of encountering a fool in his folly. to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly A fool (khesil).--Comp. Proverbs 1:32. Verse 12. - Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man. The Syrian bear was once common throughout Palestine; it is now found in but few localities, such as the hills of Hermon and Lebanon, and in the hills east of the Jordan, the destruction of wood and forest having deprived these animals of the shelter necessary to their existence. The ferocity of the bear when deprived of its young had become proverbial (see 2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8; Hart, 'Animals of the Bible,' 28, etc.). Rather than a fool in his folly; i.e. in the paroxysm of his passion. Compare Saul's ungoverned language to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:30), and Herod's murder of the children (Matthew 2:16). So we read of the people being filled with ἄνοια against Jesus (Luke 6:11). Oort supposes that this proverb arose from the riddle, "What is worse to meet than a bear?" Septuagint, "Care will fall upon a man of understanding; but fools imagine evils." The Greek translators take "bear" as us d metaphorically for terror and anxiety, but go far astray from the Hebrew text.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew [It is better]בְּאִ֑ישׁ (bə·’îš) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person to meet פָּג֬וֹשׁ (pā·ḡō·wōš) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 6298: To come in contact with, to concur a bear דֹּ֣ב (dōḇ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1677: The bear robbed of her cubs שַׁכּ֣וּל (šak·kūl) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7909: Childless than וְאַל־ (wə·’al-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 408: Not a fool כְּ֝סִ֗יל (kə·sîl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool in his folly. בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃ (bə·’iw·wal·tōw) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 200: Silliness Links Proverbs 17:12 NIVProverbs 17:12 NLT Proverbs 17:12 ESV Proverbs 17:12 NASB Proverbs 17:12 KJV Proverbs 17:12 BibleApps.com Proverbs 17:12 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 17:12 Chinese Bible Proverbs 17:12 French Bible Proverbs 17:12 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs (Prov. 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