The Wrong Page
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Proverbs 18:13 KJV
This is an original fictional illustration, not a historical report or an added Bible event.
Sophie thought her group had ignored her drawing. Their poster was finished, and her picture was missing. She began telling them they were unfair.
Then Caleb unfolded the second panel. Her drawing covered the center, exactly where they had agreed to put it. Sophie had judged the project while looking at only one side.
Proverbs 18:13 warns us about answering before we hear. A quick conclusion may feel certain and still be wrong. Sophie needed to apologize, not pretend her accusation had been harmless.
Slow down when you feel sure you know another person's reason. Hear the explanation, look at the facts, and be willing to correct yourself. Listening can save both your words and someone else's reputation.
Keep the passage in context
This proverb exposes the folly of answering before hearing. Careful listening comes before a sound judgment. It does not require accepting every claim without examination; it requires understanding before responding.
Read further: Proverbs 18 in the King James Bible.