22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(A) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(B)

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22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?(A)

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34 He mocks those who mock
but gives grace to the humble.(A)

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34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
    but to the humble he shows favor.(A)

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The one who corrects a mocker
will bring abuse on himself;
the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt.[a]
Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;(A)
rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 9:7 Lit man: his blemish

General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)

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A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

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A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for one who understands.

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12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;(A)
he will not consult the wise.

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12 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
    they will not go to the wise.(A)

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25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;(A)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.(B)

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25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
    reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.(A)

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29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(A)

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29 Punishments are prepared for scoffers
    and flogging for the backs of fools.(A)

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11 When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.(A)

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11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser;
    when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.(A)

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24 The arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,”
acts with excessive arrogance.(A)

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24 The proud, haughty person, named Scoffer,
    acts with arrogant pride.(A)

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10 Drive out a mocker,(A) and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.(B)

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10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out;
    quarreling and abuse will cease.(A)

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A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to people.

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The devising of folly is sin,
    and the scoffer is an abomination to all.

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Mockers inflame a city,(A)
but the wise turn away anger.

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Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.(A)

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