⁷If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt. ⁸Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you. ⁹Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.

¹⁰^*To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding. ¹¹Wisdom will add years to your life.

Read in Logos

Proverbs 9:8: Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Cross references

*9.10: Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

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

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

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

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

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

For by me your days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through wisdom your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The one who corrects a mocker

will bring abuse on himself;

the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt.

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

rebuke the wise, and he will love you.

Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;

teach the righteous, and he will learn more.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For by me your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

NLTNew Living Translation

Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.

Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.

So don’t bother correcting mockers;

they will only hate you.

But correct the wise,

and they will love you.

Instruct the wise,

and they will be even wiser.

Teach the righteous,

and they will learn even more.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Wisdom will multiply your days

and add years to your life.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,

and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.

Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;

rebuke the wise and he will love you.

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

teach a righteous one and he will increase learning.

The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,

and knowledge of the Holy One, insight.

For by me your days shall increase,

and years of life shall multiply for you.

KJV 1900King James Version

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:

And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:

Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

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

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

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:

And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

For by me thy days shall be multiplied,

And the years of thy life shall be increased.

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