Proverbs 29:9
in Proverbs 29If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
KJV
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
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This verse in Proverbs 29
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
All modes of teaching - the stern rebuke or the smiling speech - are alike useless with the “foolish” man; there is “no rest.” The ceaseless cavilling goes on still.
This site's exposition
Mockers inflame a city
on Proverbs 29:8-10
"Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger" sets mockery and calm speech against each other. Verse 9 warns that some disputes cannot be won. Verse 10 gives the plainest form of the conflict, men of bloodshed hating the blameless man while "the upright care for his life."
This site's exposition
If a wise man goes to court
Albert Barnes reads the raving and laughing as the wise man's two approaches, stern rebuke and smiling speech. Both are useless with the fool. His ceaseless quibbling leaves the case without rest.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A wise man contending with a fool, etc. A wise teacher, if he contends with an unbelieving and obstinate man, whether he speaks of the torments of the reprobates or the joys of the good, labors in vain against the senseless; whether he advises the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
contendeth--that is, in law. whether . . . laugh--The fool, whether angry or good-humored, is unsettled; or referring the words to the wise man, the sense is, that all his efforts, severe or gentle, are unavailing to pacify the fool.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Whether he rage or laugh - Coverdale translates, “Yf a wyse man go to lawe with a foole, whether he deale with him frendly or roughly he geteth no rest.”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
seek his soul [This is] an expression of love, and it appears that it is so, as David said to Abiathar (I Sam.:23): “for he who seeks my soul seeks your soul.” He who will deal kindly with me will deal kindly with you.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אִֽישׁ־ | ʾish- | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| חָכָ֗ם | chakham | wise | H2450 → | 138 times |
| נִ֭שְׁפָּט | nishpot | [who] enters into judgment | H8199 → | 202 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| אֱוִ֑יל | ʾevil | a fool | H191 → | 26 times |
| וְרָגַ֥ז | veragaz | and he rages | H7264 → | |
| וְ֝שָׂחַ֗ק | vesachak | and he laughs | H7832 → | 36 times |
| וְאֵ֣ין | veein | and there not | H369 → | 789 times |
| נָֽחַת׃ | nachat | [is] rest | H5183 → |
אִֽישׁ־a person
ʾish-H376 →1663 times
חָכָ֗םwise
chakhamH2450 →138 times
נִ֭שְׁפָּט[who] enters into judgment
nishpotH8199 →202 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
אִ֣ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
אֱוִ֑ילa fool
ʾevilH191 →26 times
וְרָגַ֥זand he rages
veragazH7264 →
וְ֝שָׂחַ֗קand he laughs
vesachakH7832 →36 times
וְאֵ֣יןand there not
veeinH369 →789 times
נָֽחַת׃[is] rest
nachatH5183 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 7:6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
it leads to
- Proverbs 9:7–8
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Proverbs 23:9
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- Matthew 10:14–15
And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
- Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
- Matthew 15:26
But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
- Proverbs 9:7–8
Through
Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
it leads to
- Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
- 1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Proverbs 26:5
Through
Ecclesiastes 10:13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 25:10–11
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
- 1 Samuel 25:10–11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).