Proverbs 9:8-9
Proverbs 9:7-12 The Message (MSG)
If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins. So don’t waste your time on a scoffer; all you’ll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that’s different—they’ll love you for it! Save your breath for the wise—they’ll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know—they’ll profit from it. Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-GOD, insight into life from knowing a Holy God. It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you.
Proverbs 9:8-9 King James Version (KJV)
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9 New Century Version (NCV)
Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser; teach good people, and they will learn even more.
Proverbs 9:8-9 American Standard Version (ASV)
Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9 New International Version (NIV)
Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9 New King James Version (NKJV)
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Do not correct a scoffer [who foolishly ridicules and takes no responsibility for his error] or he will hate you; Correct a wise man [who learns from his error], and he will love you. [Ps 141:5] Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9 New Living Translation (NLT)
So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
Proverbs 9:8-9 The Passion Translation (TPT)
So don’t even bother to correct a mocker, for he’ll only hate you for it. But go ahead and correct the wise; they’ll love you even more. Teach a wise man what is right and he’ll grow even wiser. Instruct the lovers of God and they’ll learn even more.