Proverbs 29:9
New International Version
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

New Living Translation
If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.

English Standard Version
If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Berean Standard Bible
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

King James Bible
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

New King James Version
If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

New American Standard Bible
When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person, The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

NASB 1995
When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

NASB 1977
When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

Legacy Standard Bible
When a wise man is brought into judgment with a man who is an ignorant fool, The ignorant fool both rages and laughs, and there is no rest.

Amplified Bible
If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish and arrogant man, The foolish man [ignores logic and fairness and] only rages or laughs, and there is no peace (rest, agreement).

Christian Standard Bible
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.

American Standard Version
If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A wise man debates with a fool, and he is passionate and laughs and is not enraged.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not.

Contemporary English Version
Be wise and don't sue a fool. You won't get satisfaction, because all the fool will do is sneer and shout.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry or laugh, he shall find no rest.

English Revised Version
If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool, he may rant and rave, but there is no peace and quiet.

Good News Translation
When an intelligent person brings a lawsuit against a fool, the fool only laughs and becomes loud and abusive.

International Standard Version
When a wise man has a dispute with a fool, the fool either rages or laughs without relief.

JPS Tanakh 1917
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

Literal Standard Version
A wise man is judged by the foolish man, | And he has been angry, | And he has laughed, and there is no rest.

Majority Standard Bible
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

New American Bible
If a wise person disputes with a fool, there is railing and ridicule but no resolution.

NET Bible
If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.

New Revised Standard Version
If the wise go to law with fools, there is ranting and ridicule without relief.

New Heart English Bible
If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

Webster's Bible Translation
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rageth or laugheth, there is no rest.

World English Bible
If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

Young's Literal Translation
A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he hath been angry, And he hath laughed, and there is no rest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Stiff-Necked will Be Destroyed
8Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. 9If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. 10Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…

Cross References
Proverbs 17:12
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

Proverbs 29:8
Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.

Proverbs 29:10
Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.


Treasury of Scripture

If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Ecclesiastes 10:13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

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Angry Argument Contendeth Controversy Court Either Fool Foolish Goes Judged Laugh Law Peace Quiet Rage Rages Rageth Rest Scoffs Whether Wise
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Angry Argument Contendeth Controversy Court Either Fool Foolish Goes Judged Laugh Law Peace Quiet Rage Rages Rageth Rest Scoffs Whether Wise
Proverbs 29
1. observations of public government
15. and of private
22. Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice and corruption














(9) Whether he rage or laugh--i.e., whether the wise man treat him with sternness or good temper, yet "there is no rest," the fool will not cease from his folly; or, the sense may be, "the fool rages and laughs;" he will not listen quietly to argument, by which he might be brought to wisdom, but is either violent or supercilious.

Verse 9. - If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man - if a wise man has a controversy, either legal or social, with a wicked fool - whether he rage (is angry) or laugh, there is no rest. It is a question whether the wise man or the fool is the subject of this clause. St. Jerome makes the former the subject, Vir sapiens, si cum stulto contenderit, sive irascatur, sive rideat, non inveniet requiem. It matters not how the wise man treats the fool; he may be stern and angry, he may be gentle and good tempered, yet the fool will be none the better, will not be reformed, will not cease from his folly, will carry on his cavilling contention. Hitzig, Delitzsch, and others, deeming that the rage and the laughter are not becoming to the character of the wise man, take the fool as the subject; so that the sense is, that after all has been said, the fool only falls into a passion or laughs at the matter, argument is wasted upon him, and the controversy is never settled. This seems to be the best interpretation, and is somewhat supported by the Septuagint, "A wise man shall judge the nations, but a worthless man, being angry, laughs and fears not [καταγελᾶται καὶ οὐ καταπτήσσει, which may also mean, 'is derided and terrifies no one']." Wordsworth notes that the irreligious fool is won neither by the austere preaching of John the Baptist nor by the mild teaching of Christ, but rejects both (Matthew 11:16-19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If a wise
חָכָ֗ם (ḥā·ḵām)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

man
אִֽישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

goes to court
נִ֭שְׁפָּט (niš·pāṭ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

a fool,
אֱוִ֑יל (’ĕ·wîl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 191: Foolish

there will be raving
וְרָגַ֥ז (wə·rā·ḡaz)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7264: To be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

and laughing
וְ֝שָׂחַ֗ק (wə·śā·ḥaq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7832: To laugh, to play

with no
וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

resolution.
נָֽחַת׃ (nā·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5183: A descent, imposition, unfavorable, favorable, restfulness


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man goes to court (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 29:8
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