Proverbs 17:12

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Sam 17:8 : 8 Hushai went on to say,“You know your father and his men– they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that has been robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier; he will not stay overnight with the army.
  • Hos 13:8 : 8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs– I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion– like a wild animal would tear them apart.
  • Prov 27:3 : 3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.
  • Prov 28:15 : 15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
  • 2 Kgs 2:24 : 24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them. Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces.
  • Matt 2:16 : 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 17:10-11
    2 verses
    78%

    10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.

    11An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

  • Prov 17:13
    78%

    13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.

  • Prov 17:24-25
    2 verses
    75%

    24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

    25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

  • Prov 26:3-5
    3 verses
    75%

    3A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

    4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

    5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion.

  • Prov 17:21
    74%

    21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

  • Prov 26:9-12
    4 verses
    74%

    9Like a thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, so a proverb has gone up into the mouth of a fool.

    10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passerby.

    11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 27:12
    74%

    12A shrewd person saw danger–he hid himself; the naive passed right on by– they had to pay for it.

  • Prov 14:16-17
    2 verses
    73%

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

    17A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated.

  • Prov 12:15-16
    2 verses
    73%

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

    16A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor.

  • Amos 5:19
    73%

    19Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake.

  • Prov 13:16
    73%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 13:20
    73%

    20The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

  • Prov 15:20-21
    2 verses
    72%

    20A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.

    21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.

  • Prov 19:1
    72%

    1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    72%

    7Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel.

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Prov 19:3
    72%

    3A person’s folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • Prov 10:23
    72%

    23Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

  • Prov 28:15
    71%

    15Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

  • Prov 22:15
    71%

    15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

  • Prov 17:16
    71%

    16What’s the point of a fool having money in hand to buy wisdom, when his head is empty?

  • Prov 15:5
    71%

    5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.

  • Eccl 10:12
    71%

    12Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

  • Prov 29:11
    71%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 18:2
    71%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Prov 29:9
    71%

    9When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.

  • Eccl 7:5
    71%

    5Frivolous Living Versus Wisdom It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

  • Prov 21:19-20
    2 verses
    71%

    19It is better to live in the wilderness than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman.

    20There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.

  • Prov 29:20
    71%

    20You have seen someone who is hasty in his words– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 18:6
    71%

    6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.

  • Lam 3:10
    70%

    10ד(Dalet) To me he is like a bear lying in ambush, like a hidden lion stalking its prey.

  • Prov 7:22
    70%

    22Suddenly he was going after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare

  • Prov 20:3
    70%

    3It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

  • Eccl 4:13
    70%

    13Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

  • Prov 27:3
    70%

    3A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.

  • Eccl 10:3
    70%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Prov 23:9
    70%

    9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

  • Hos 13:8
    70%

    8I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs– I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion– like a wild animal would tear them apart.

  • Prov 11:29
    70%

    29The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.