13 The active participle יֹסֵר (yoser) describes one who tries to correct by means of instruction and discipline; it is paralleled by the Hiphil participle which refers to someone who rebukes or reproves another. Anyone trying this on these types of people would be inviting trouble.
14 Heb “receives for himself.”
15 The word means “dishonor” or “disgrace.” It is paralleled with מוּמוֹ (mumo), translated “abuse.” The latter term means “blemish,” although some would emend the text to read “reproach.” The is figurative but not impossible to interpret: Whoever tries to rebuke a wicked person will receive only insults and perhaps physical attack.
16 The verb “receives” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
17 In view of the expected response for reproof, the text now uses a negated jussive to advise against the attempt. This is paralleled antithetically by the imperative in the second colon. This imperative is in an understood conditional clause: “if you reprove a wise person.”
18 Heb “lest he hate you.” The particle פֶּן (pen, “lest”) expresses fear or precaution (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 79, §476). The antonyms “love” and “hate” suggest that the latter means “reject” and the former means “choosing and embracing.”
19 The noun “instruction” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation.
20 The parallelism shows what Proverbs will repeatedly stress, that the wise person is the righteous person.
21 The Hiphil verb normally means “to cause to know, make known”; but here the context suggests “to teach” (so many English versions).
22 The term “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for the sake of smoothness and clarity.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Public Domain