Proverbs 9:7–12
7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 fDo not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
gRebuke 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, hand he will increase in learning.
10 “The ifear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 jFor by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 kIf you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
Proverbs 9:7–12 — The New International Version (NIV)
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
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.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
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 in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:
And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
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.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:
And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied,
And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself:
But if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — New Living Translation (NLT)
7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
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.
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
11 Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — New Century Version (NCV)
7 “If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted.
If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.
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.
10 “Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord,
and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
11 If you live wisely, you will live a long time;
wisdom will add years to your life.
12 The wise person is rewarded by wisdom,
but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it.”
Proverbs 9:7–12 — American Standard Version (ASV)
7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling;
And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
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.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied,
And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself;
And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked man getteth to himself a blot. 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. 10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee. 12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
7 Whoever corrects a mocker receives abuse.
Whoever warns a wicked person gets hurt.
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.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 You will live longer because of me,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will help you.
If you mock, you alone will be held responsible.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
7 The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.
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.
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by Wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”
Proverbs 9:7–12 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
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.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
7 He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,
and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
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.
10 The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,
and knowledge of the Holy One, insight.
11 For by me your days shall increase,
and years of life shall multiply for you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it.
Proverbs 9:7–12 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
7 “When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at.
When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.
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.
10 “If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord.
To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.
11 Through me, you will live a long time.
Years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.
If you make fun of others, you alone will suffer.”
Proverbs 9:7–12 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
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.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.