King James Version

Proverbs 18:13

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

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Hebrew

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מֵשִׁ֣יבmeshivagainשׁוּבverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “again”, a verb used as a describing wordH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…דָּ֭בָרdavarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…בְּטֶ֣רֶםbeteremin beforeטֶרֶםpreposition, adverb — “in before”H2962properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or beforebefore, ere, not yet.יִשְׁמָ֑עyishmahearשָׁמַעverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “hear”, an unfinished actionH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…אִוֶּ֥לֶתiveletfollyאִוֶּלֶתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “folly”, the ordinary formH200sillinessfolly, foolishly(-ness).הִיאhias for herהוּאpronoun, personal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “as for her”H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or arehe, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.ל֝֗וֹlvotoל֝֗וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toוּכְלִמָּֽהukhelimahand confusionכְּלִמָּהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and confusion”, the ordinary formH3639disgraceconfusion, dishonour, reproach, shame.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and confusion unto him.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

Young’s Literal Translation

Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

World English Bible

He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

Darby Translation

He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

Douay-Rheims

He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and confusion unto him.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Whoso answers a word before he hears a cause , it is folly and reproach to him.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὃς ἀποκρίνεται λόγον πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι, ἀφροσύνη αὐτῷ ἐστι καὶ ὄνειδος.