Proverbs 11:12

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

He that is void of wisdom (Hebrew, heart) despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. It aggravates the sin of 'despising' another, that he is one's "neighbour," allied by creation, by community of civil and religious ties, and by, the prospect of the same eternity. "Despiseth," and therefore assails with contemptuous taunts, "his neighbour," when the latter has fallen into misfortune or error. The antithesis requires the ellipsis to be thus supplied: 'But a man of understanding holdeth his peace' - i:e., doth not contemptuously taunt his neighbour. Mariana connects the sense with : "He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour" for the secret that he knows TO his discredit, and speaks of it to others; "but a man of understanding holdeth his peace" about it.