Proverbs 17:12 (GNV)

Passage

It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:10 A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.

Proverbs 17:11 A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Proverbs 17:12 It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.

Proverbs 17:13 He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "meete", "beare", "robbed", "whelpes", "foole", and "follie". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "meete", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "A sedicious person seeketh onely euill and..." into verse 13's "He that rewardeth euil for good euil...", so "better" and "meete" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "better" and "meete" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.