Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 20. Proverbs 18:13 (Prov 18:13) [tr. RJPS (2023 ed.)]

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:15:50 +0000

To answer before listening —
This is foolish and disgraceful.

מֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 20. Proverbs 18:13 (Prov 18:13) [tr. RJPS (2023 ed.)]
(Source)

See La Rochefoucauld (1665).

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
it is folly and shame unto him.
[KJV (1611)]

To retort without first listening is folly to work one's own confusion.
[JB (1966)]

To retort without first listening is both foolish and embarrassing.
[NJB (1985)]

Listen before you answer. If you don't, you are being stupid and insulting.
[GNT (1992 ed.)]

Those who answer before they listen
are foolish and disgraceful.
[CEB (2011)]

If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

WIST Quotations

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 20. Proverbs 18:13 (Prov 18:13) [tr. RJPS (2023 ed.)]