The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
KJV
Parallel translations
4 additional translations▾
Parallel translations
4 additional translationsASV
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
WEB
A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
YLT
The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.
DBT
The heart of an intelligent [man] seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish feedeth on folly.
About this book
Old Testament▾
About this book
Old TestamentProverbs — Gnomic wisdom — sayings, instructions, and the binary of wisdom vs. folly. Fear of the LORD as the integrative theme; the virtuous woman of Prov 31 as the book's closing portrait of wisdom embodied.
- Author
- Solomon principally (1:1; chs 10–22:16 and 25–29 explicitly); Agur (ch 30); Lemuel's mother (ch 31:1–9); editorial compilation by Hezekiah's men (25:1).
- Date
- Solomon's reign c. 970–930 BC; Hezekiah's editorial layer c. 715–687 BC.