He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
Parallel translations
- KJV He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
- BSB He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- NKJV “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
- NASB ¶One who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And one who rebukes a wicked person gets insults for himself.
- NLT Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
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
Correcting a mocker invites insult, and rebuking the wicked invites abuse. Some respond to correction with hostility rather than humility.
Overview
This begins a brief reflection distinguishing how different people receive reproof. The scoffer and the wicked react to correction with contempt and retaliation, exposing a hardened heart. Scripture consistently teaches that the way one responds to rebuke reveals one's character, and Jesus likewise counseled discernment in offering truth to the unwilling (Matthew 7:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 15:12A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
- Prov 23:9Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- 2 Chr 36:16but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
- 2 Chr 25:15–16Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?”
- 2 Chr 24:20–22The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you disobey Yahweh’s commandments, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.’”
- 1 Kgs 22:24Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did Yahweh’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?”
- 1 Kgs 18:17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
- 1 Kgs 21:20Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight.
- 1 Kgs 22:27Say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.”’”
- Gen 19:8–9See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.”
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 9:7 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.