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Proverbs 29:9
ESV If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
NIV If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
NASB When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person, The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
CSB If a wise person goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.
NLT If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.
KJV If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
NKJV If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

What does Proverbs 29:9 mean?

It is tempting to bicker with an irrational, unfair, immoral person. One feels a natural desire to silence a fool, if for no other reason than to stop hearing their nonsense (Proverbs 27:3). That's not always a good idea (Proverbs 26:4), nor is it always possible. Some "fools" are deliberately closed to reason; they bicker and argue because they enjoy the attention and feeling of being in control. Such are the "scoffers" mentioned in other proverbs (Proverbs 9:7; 29:8). They are not interested in truth, and may not even care about winning the argument, but only love tricking others into playing their games. Arguing reasonably may only make them angry (Matthew 7:6) and would be a waste of time (Titus 3:9–11).

Worse is when the "fool" successfully baits someone into revenge or overreaction. David was enraged by Nabal—whose name literally means fool—but Nabal's wife persuaded David not to retaliate (1 Samuel 25:25–26). She brought the supplies David had requested and advised him that he would "have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself" (1 Samuel 25:31). David replied, in part, "Blessed be the Lᴏʀᴅ, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!" (1 Samuel 25:32–33).
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