Proverbs 10:17

New English Translation

¹⁷The one who heeds instruction^[a] is on the way to^[b] life,
but the one who rejects^[c] rebuke goes astray.

Proverbs 10:17 tn Heb “discipline.” The noun מוּסָר (musar) has a basic two-fold range of meanings: (1) “discipline” (so NIV; NAB “admonition”; NCV, NLT “correction”) and (2) “instruction” (BDB 416 s.v.; so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The wise person listens to instruction (first colon); however, the fool will not even take discipline to heart (second colon).
Proverbs 10:17 tn The term is a genitive of location indicating the goal (IBHS 147-48 §9.5.2f).
Proverbs 10:17 sn The contrast with the one who holds fast to discipline is the one who forsakes or abandons reproof or correction. Whereas the first is an example, this latter individual causes people to wander from the true course of life, that is, causes them to err.

Proverbs 10:17

International Standard Version

¹⁷Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life,
but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.

¹⁰Severe discipline^[a] is for the one who abandons the way;
the one who hates reproof^[b] will die.

Proverbs 15:10 tn The two lines are parallel synonymously, so the “severe discipline” of the first colon is parallel to “will die” of the second. The expression מוּסָר רָע (musar raʿ, “severe discipline”) indicates a discipline that is catastrophic or harmful to life.
Proverbs 15:10 sn If this line and the previous line are synonymous, then the one who abandons the way also refuses any correction, and so there is severe punishment. To abandon the way means to leave the life of righteousness which is the repeated subject of the book of Proverbs.

¹⁰Severe punishment awaits anyone who wanders off the path—
anyone who despises reproof will die.

³²The one who refuses correction despises himself,^[a]
but whoever listens to^[b] reproof acquires understanding.^[c]

Proverbs 15:32 sn To “despise oneself” means to reject oneself as if there was little value. The one who ignores discipline is not interested in improving himself.
Proverbs 15:32 tn The nuances of שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) include hearing and obeying or carrying out what was said. Cf. “heeds” so NAB, NIV, NKJV, NRSV.
Proverbs 15:32 tn The term לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) is used as a metonymy of association for what one does with the mind (thinking), and so refers to discernment, wisdom, good sense.

³²Whoever ignores instruction hates himself,
but anyone who heeds reproof gains understanding.^[a]

New English Translation (NET)

International Standard Version (ISV)