Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die.
- KJV Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
- ESV There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.
- NKJV Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.
- NASB There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way; One who hates a rebuke will die.
- NLT Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined; whoever hates correction will die.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Stern discipline awaits those who abandon the right way, and hating correction leads to death. Rejecting reproof is deadly.
Overview
This proverb warns that forsaking the path of life invites severe discipline, and that to hate reproof is to court death. It presents correction not as cruelty but as a means of preserving life. The seriousness here points to the eternal stakes of refusing God's correcting word and the life found only in heeding it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- Prov 13:1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
- John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
- Prov 10:17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.
- John 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
- 1 Kgs 21:20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 18:17When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
- Ezek 24:13–14Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
- Prov 1:30They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
- 1 Kgs 22:8The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
- Prov 5:12and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
- Prov 23:35“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
- Isa 1:5–6Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 15:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.