Previous

Proverbs 23:8

Proverbs 23:9-1953 kjv — Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Remove not the old landmark; and enter no…

King James Version

9

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11

For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

12

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14

Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

15

My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16

Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

17

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

18

For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20

Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

21

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25

Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

26

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

27

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28

She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

— Proverbs 23:9-1953, King James Version

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Proverbs 23:9-1953 in Other Translations

1 version All translations
  • ASV

    “Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee. Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child; Forif thou beat him with the rod, he will not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol. My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine: Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things. Let not thy heart envy sinners; Butbe thouin the fear of Jehovah all the day long: For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothea manwith rags. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him. Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice. My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways. For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit. Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly: At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ”

Proverbs 23 — Context

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.

9

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11

For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

12

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14

Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

15

My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16

Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

17

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

18

For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20

Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

21

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25

Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

26

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

27

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28

She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Proverbs 23:9-1953 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Proverbs 23:9-1953 say?
Proverbs 23:9-1953 in the King James Version reads: “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ”
Where is Proverbs 23:9-1953 in the Bible?
Proverbs 23:9-1953 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Proverbs, chapter 23, verses 9–1953.
Who wrote Proverbs?
Proverbs is traditionally attributed to Solomon (primarily), with sections by Agur and Lemuel. It was written c. 970–700 BC.
What is the book of Proverbs about?
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.
What are the major themes of Proverbs?
Proverbs explores themes including Wisdom, Folly, Fear of the LORD, Discipline, Speech, Diligence. These themes shape the meaning and context of Proverbs 23:9-1953.
What translation should I read Proverbs 23:9-1953 in?
Proverbs 23:9-1953 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.
How can I memorize Proverbs 23:9-1953?
Proverbs 23:9-1953 reads (KJV): “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ” 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.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2