⁷ “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
^8 (A)Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
^(B)Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But ^(A)knowledge is easy to him who understands.

^12 (A)A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple ^(A)will become wary;
^(B)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
^(A)And beatings for the backs of fools.

¹¹ When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the ^(A)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

²⁴ A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.

^10 (A)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.