Proverbs 17:12-1964 bbe — It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting fool…

Proverbs 17:12-1964 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house. The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows. He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord. How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense? A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour. The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction. Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble. He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy. A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause. Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness. He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.”

Proverbs 17:12-1964 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Proverbs, chapter 17, verses 12–1964.

Proverbs is traditionally attributed to Solomon (primarily), with sections by Agur and Lemuel. It was written c. 970–700 BC.

Proverbs is practical wisdom for everyday life — short, vivid sayings on speech, work, money, friendship, sex, parenting, and the fear of the LORD. It teaches that wisdom is not mere cleverness but a way of walking with God in a complicated world.

Proverbs explores themes including Wisdom, Folly, Fear of the LORD, Discipline, Speech, Diligence. These themes shape the meaning and context of Proverbs 17:12-1964.

Proverbs 17:12-1964 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.

Proverbs 17:12-1964 reads (BBE): “It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house. The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows. He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord. How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense? A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour. The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction. Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble. He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy. A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause. Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness. He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.