Parallel Verses
International Standard Version
It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity.
New American Standard Bible
Rather than a fool in his folly.
King James Version
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Holman Bible
than a fool in his foolishness.
A Conservative Version
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
American Standard Version
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Amplified
Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.
Bible in Basic English
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
Darby Translation
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
Julia Smith Translation
A bereaved bear meeting with a, man, and not a fool in his folly.
King James 2000
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Lexham Expanded Bible
[May] a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring and not a fool in his folly.
Modern King James verseion
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
It were better to come against a she Bear robbed of her whelps, than against a fool in his foolishness.
NET Bible
It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.
New Heart English Bible
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
The Emphasized Bible
Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
Webster
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
World English Bible
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Youngs Literal Translation
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.
Themes
Interlinear
Shakkuwl
'al
Word Count of 20 Translations in Proverbs 17:12
Verse Info
Context Readings
Proverbs Of Solomon
11 A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him. 12 It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity. 13 The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home.
Cross References
2 Samuel 17:8
"You know how strong your father and his men are. They're as mad as a bear robbed of her cubs! Furthermore, your father is a skilled warrior. He won't stay with his army at night.
Hosea 13:8
I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their ribs. I will devour them like a lion the wild beasts will rip them apart.
Proverbs 27:3
Rocks are heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation outweighs them both.
2 Kings 2:24
He looked behind him, took note of the young men, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears emerged from the woods and mauled 42 of the young men.
Proverbs 28:15
A roaring lion and a charging bear that's what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
Matthew 2:16
Herod flew into a rage when he learned that he had been tricked by the wise men, so he ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem and all its neighboring regions, who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had determined from the wise men.