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Proverbs 9:7–9

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.z

Do not rebuke mockersa or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.b

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.c

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Proverbs 9:7–9 — English Standard Version (ESV)

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.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — New Living Translation (NLT)

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.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,

And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;

Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

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

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

Proverbs 9:7–9 — New Century Version (NCV)

“If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted.

If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.

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

But correct the wise, and they will love you.

Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser;

teach good people, and they will learn even more.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — American Standard Version (ASV)

He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling;

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

Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee:

Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

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

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

Proverbs 9:7–9 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked man getteth to himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. Impart to a wise man, and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase learning.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Whoever corrects a mocker receives abuse. 

Whoever warns a wicked person gets hurt. 

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

Warn a wise person, and he will love you. 

Give ⸤advice⸥ to a wise person, 

and he will become even wiser. 

Teach a righteous person, 

and he will learn more. 

Proverbs 9:7–9 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The one who corrects a mocker

will bring dishonor on himself;

the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.

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

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

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

teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;

whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.

A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;

the wise, when rebuked, will love you.

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

teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

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.

Proverbs 9:7–9 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

“When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at.

When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.

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

Warn those who are wise. They will love you.

Teach a wise man. He will become even wiser.

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

Proverbs 9:7–9 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,

And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

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 his learning.


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