"Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly." — Proverbs 17:12

Proverbs 17:12 · KJV

“Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.”

— Proverbs 17:12

An evil {man} seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Proverbs 17 — Context

A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. {entereth...: or, aweth more a wise man, than to strike a fool an hundred times}

An evil {man} seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

The beginning of strife {is as} when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Cross References

2 Samuel 17:8

For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they {be} mighty men, and they {be} chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father {is} a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. {chafed...: Heb. bitter of soul}

Hosea 13:8

I will meet them as a bear {that is} bereaved {of her whelps}, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. {wild...: Heb. beast of the field}

Proverbs 28:15

{As} a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; {so is} a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Proverbs 27:3

A stone {is} heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath {is} heavier than them both. {heavy: Heb. heaviness}

Matthew 2:16

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

2 Kings 2:24

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.