Proverbs 29:20

20 Have you met a person who is quick to answer? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:20

Seest thou a man [that is] hasty in his words
Swift to speak either before God or men; that takes upon him to speak upon a subject, or return an answer to a question, before he has thoroughly thought of it, and well considered it, and digested what he should say; see ( Ecclesiastes 5:2 ) ( James 1:19 ) ; or "hasty in matters" ^F24; in his business; runs rashly and precipitately into things, without duly considering within himself what is right and proper to be done, and without taking the advice of others; [there is] more hope of a fool than of him;
of one that has not the gift of elocution, or not so much sagacity in business, and yet takes time to think, and advises with others.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F24 (wyrbdb Ua) "praecipitem in negotiis suis", Vatablus, Piscator; "in rebus suis", Mercerus.

Proverbs 29:20 In-Context

18 Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow [God's] teachings.

19 A slave cannot be disciplined with words. He will not respond, though he may understand.

20 Have you met a person who is quick to answer? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 Pamper a slave from childhood, and later he will be ungrateful.

22 An angry person stirs up a fight, and a hothead does much wrong.