Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Parallel translations
- WEB As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
- KJV As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
- NKJV Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.
- NASB Like an earring of gold and a jewelry piece of fine gold, Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a listening ear.
- NLT To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
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
A wise rebuke to a willing listener is as valuable as fine gold jewelry. Correction received well is a precious gift.
Overview
The proverb honors both the wise reprover and the obedient ear that heeds correction, presenting rebuke as adornment rather than insult. Humble teachability turns criticism into growth (Prov 9:8-9). It models the kind of openness God's people should have toward his correcting word (Heb 12:5-6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
- Prov 15:31–32He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
- Prov 9:8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
- Prov 15:5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
- Prov 27:5–6Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
- 1 Sam 25:31–34then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your maidservant.”
- Prov 1:8–9Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
- Job 42:11All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
- Prov 20:12Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
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 25:12 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.