King James Version

Proverbs 11:12

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

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Hebrew

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בָּזbazcontemnבּוּזverb, qal, participle, absolute — “contemn”, a verb used as a describing wordH936to disrespectcontemn, despise, [idiom] utterly.לְרֵעֵ֥הוּlereehvto brotherרֵעַpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to brother”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7453an associate (more or less close)brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other.חֲסַרchasardestituteחָסֵרadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “destitute”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2638lacking; hence, withoutdestitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.לֵ֑בlevcomfortablyלֵבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “comfortably”, the ordinary formH3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything[phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom]…וְאִ֖ישׁveishand a certainאִישׁconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…תְּבוּנ֣וֹתtevunotdiscretionתָּבוּןnoun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “discretion”, the ordinary formH8394intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, capricediscretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.יַחֲרִֽישׁyacharishbe deafחָרַשׁverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be deaf”, an unfinished actionH2790to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)[idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He that despiseth his neighbour lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment holdeth his peace.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Young’s Literal Translation

Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.

World English Bible

One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

Darby Translation

He that despiseth his neighbour is void of heart; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Douay-Rheims

He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

He that despiseth his neighbour lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment holdeth his peace.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

A man void of understanding sneers at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Μυκτηρίζει πολίτας ἐνδεὴς φρενῶν, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος ἡσυχίαν ἄγει.