Proverbs 11:12

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
– Proverbs 11:12

To despise is to hold in contempt or as insignificant. We would say it is to look down on someone else. Considering the contrast, despising means gossiping, slandering, or even openly deriding one’s neighbor. It could include scorn and mockery, even when covered with a thin veneer (Proverbs 26:19). Conversely, the wise man will keep silence rather than speak such to his neighbor (Proverbs 10:19; 15:28; 17:27).

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