Proverbs 24:7

Wisdom is unattainable ¹  for a fool; in court ²  he does not open his mouth. ³ 

biblegateway Pro 24:7

Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

biblegateway Pro 24:7

Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate.

biblegateway Pro 24:7

Wisdom is too much for a fool. When the leaders gather, the fool has nothing to say.

biblegateway Pro 24:7

Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven't a clue.

SABDAweb Pro 24:7

Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.

bibleoremus Pro 24:7

Wisdom is too high for fools; in the gate they do not open their mouths.

biblegateway Pro 24:7

Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate.

biblegateway Pro 24:7

Wisdom is unattainable ¹  for a fool; in court ²  he does not open his mouth. ³ 

¹ tc The MT reads רָאמוֹת (ra’mot, “corals”) – wisdom to the fool is corals, i.e., an unattainable treasure. With a slight change in the text, removing the א (alef), the reading is רָמוֹת (ramot, “high”), i.e., wisdom is too high – unattainable – for a fool. The internal evidence favors the emendation, which is followed by most English versions including KJV.

² tn Heb “[city] gate,” a metonymy of subject, meaning what goes on in the gate – court cases and business transactions. So it is in these assemblies that the fool keeps quiet. The term “court” has been used in the translation for clarity. Some English versions do not emphasize the forensic connotation here: NCV “in a discussion”; NLT “When the leaders gather.”

³ sn The verse portrays a fool out of his element: In a serious moment in the gathering of the community, he does not even open his mouth (a metonymy of cause, meaning “speak”). Wisdom is too high for the fool – it is beyond his ability.