8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;

they will only hate you.

But correct the wise,

and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise,

and they will be even wiser.

Teach the righteous,

and they will learn even more.

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;

Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

8 Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you.

But correct the wise, and they will love you.

9 Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser;

teach good people, and they will learn even more.

8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee:

Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Impart to a wise man, and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase learning.

8 Do not warn a mocker, or he will hate you. 

Warn a wise person, and he will love you. 

9 Give ⸤advice⸥ to a wise person, 

and he will become even wiser. 

Teach a righteous person, 

and he will learn more. 

8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;

teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.

8 A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;

the wise, when rebuked, will love you.

9 Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.

8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;

rebuke the wise and he will love you.

9 Give to a wise one and he will become more wise;

teach a righteous one and he will increase learning.

8 Don’t warn those who make fun of others. They will hate you.

Warn those who are wise. They will love you.

9 Teach a wise man. He will become even wiser.

Teach a person who does right. He will learn even more.

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,

Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,

Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.