Proverbs 18:13 (GNV)

Passage

He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:11 The rich mans riches are his strong citie: and as an hie wall in his imagination.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of a man is hautie, and before glory goeth lowlines.

Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will susteine his infirmitie: but a wounded spirit who can beare it?

Proverbs 18:15 A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "answereth", "matter", "before", "heare", "folly", "shame", and "vnto". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "answereth" and "matter", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Before destruction the heart of a man..." into verse 14's "The spirit of a man will susteine...", so "answereth" and "matter" 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 "answereth" and "matter" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.