Proverbs 18:13 (YLT)

Passage

Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:11 The wealth of the rich <FI>is<Fi> the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour <FI>is<Fi> humility.

Proverbs 18:13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whoso", "answering", "matter", "before", "heareth", "folly", and "shame". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whoso" and "answering", 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 man is..." into verse 14's "The spirit of a man sustaineth his...", so "whoso" and "answering" 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 "whoso" and "answering" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.