²² “How long will you childish people love your childish ways?
    How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others?
    How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?

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, or they will hate you.
    Warn those who are wise, and they will love you.

⁶ Those who make fun of others look for wisdom and don’t find it.
    But knowledge comes easily to those who understand what is right.

¹² People who make fun of others don’t like to be corrected.
    So they stay away from wise people.

²⁵ If you whip a person who makes fun of others,
    childish people will learn to be wise.
If you warn those who already understand what is right,
    they will gain even more knowledge.

²⁹ Those who make fun of others will be judged.
    Foolish people will be punished.

¹¹ When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise.
    By paying attention to wise people, the childish get knowledge.

²⁴ A proud person is called a mocker.
    He thinks much too highly of himself.

¹⁰ If you drive away those who make fun of others, fighting also goes away.
    Arguing and unkind words will stop.