The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.
Parallel translations
- WEB Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
- KJV Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
- BSB He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
- NKJV Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
- NASB Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the needy.
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
God scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble. Pride invites God's opposition; humility receives his favor.
Overview
The LORD responds to the proud mocker with mockery, but pours grace on the lowly. This principle is so central that both James and Peter quote it (Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5) to ground the call to humble submission before God. The gospel rests on this very pattern: grace comes to those who humble themselves and receive it as a gift in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Jas 4:6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Ps 138:6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.
- Prov 9:12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
- Prov 21:24The proud and haughty man, “scoffer” is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
- Isa 57:15For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Prov 9:7–8He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
- Prov 19:29Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
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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 3:34 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
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