Proverbs 19:25
New International Version
Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

New Living Translation
If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

English Standard Version
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Berean Standard Bible
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

King James Bible
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

New King James Version
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

New American Standard Bible
Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever, But rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

NASB 1995
Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

NASB 1977
Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

Legacy Standard Bible
Strike a scoffer and the simple may become prudent, But reprove one who has understanding and he will understand knowledge.

Amplified Bible
Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent; Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.

Christian Standard Bible
Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

American Standard Version
Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Whenever a fool is whipped, the wise pays attention, and if you rebuke the wise, he perceives knowledge.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if thou reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion.

Contemporary English Version
Stupid fools learn good sense by seeing others punished; a sensible person learns by being corrected.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The wicked man being; scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man he will understand discipline.

English Revised Version
smite a scorner, and the simple will learn prudence: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson. Warn an understanding person, and he will gain more knowledge.

Good News Translation
Arrogance should be punished, so that people who don't know any better can learn a lesson. If you are wise, you will learn when you are corrected.

International Standard Version
If you scourge a scoffer, the simple person may learn to be discreet; rebuke a discerning man and he will gain understanding.

JPS Tanakh 1917
When thou smitest a scorner, the simple will become prudent; And when one that hath understanding is reproved, he will understand knowledge.

Literal Standard Version
Strike a scorner, and the simple acts prudently, | And give reproof to the intelligent, | He understands knowledge.

Majority Standard Bible
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

New American Bible
Beat a scoffer and the naive learn a lesson; rebuke the intelligent and they gain knowledge.

NET Bible
Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence; correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.

New Revised Standard Version
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.

New Heart English Bible
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Webster's Bible Translation
Smite a scorner and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

World English Bible
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Young's Literal Translation
A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Man of Integrity
24The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth. 25Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge. 26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.…

Cross References
Psalm 141:5
Let 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.

Proverbs 9:7
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

Proverbs 9:8
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 21:11
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.


Treasury of Scripture

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

smite

Proverbs 21:11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Deuteronomy 13:11
And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.

Deuteronomy 21:21
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

beware

Proverbs 9:9,10
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning…

Proverbs 15:5
A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 17:10
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

Jump to Previous
Acts Beware Discerning Flog Gain Intelligent Learn Naive Overtake Pride Prudence Prudent Prudently Rebuke Reproof Reprove Reproved Scoffer Scorner Sense Sharp Shrewd Simple Smite Smitest Strike Understand Understandeth Understanding Wise Words
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Acts Beware Discerning Flog Gain Intelligent Learn Naive Overtake Pride Prudence Prudent Prudently Rebuke Reproof Reprove Reproved Scoffer Scorner Sense Sharp Shrewd Simple Smite Smitest Strike Understand Understandeth Understanding Wise Words
Proverbs 19
1. Life and Conduct














(25) Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware.--For "scorner" and "simple" see note on Proverbs 1:22. Reproof is of no avail to turn the "scorner" from his evil way (Proverbs 9:7; Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 15:12), punishment will also do him no good; but it may make the "simple," whose character is not yet formed for good or evil, reflect and amend. So God at first punishes sinners for their good (Amos 4:6, ff.), afterwards, when they are obdurate, as a warning to others (Amos 4:12; Deuteronomy 29:21, ff.) . . . Verse 25. - Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; will learn prudence, Revised Verson (comp. Proverbs 21:11; and see note on Proverbs 1:22). The scorner is hardened to all reproof, and is beyond all hope of being reformed by punishment; in his case it is retribution for outraged virtue that is sought in the penalty which he is made to pay. Τιμωρία, not κόλασις - retributive, not corrective punishment. Seeing this, the simple, who is not yet confirmed in evil, and is still open to better influences, may be led to take warning and amend his life. So St. Paul enjoins Timothy, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Timothy 5:20). There is the trite adage -

"Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum."

"Happy they
Who from their neighbours' perils caution learn."
Septuagint, "When a pestilent fellow is chastised, a fool will be cleverer (πανουργότερος) So Vulgate, Pestilente flagellato stultus sapientior erit. Reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand, knowledge. The scorner does not profit by severe punishment, but the intelligent man is improved by censure, and admonition (comp. Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 15:12). Says the adage, "Sapientem nutu, stultum fuste (corripe)," "A nod for the wise, a stick for the fool."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Strike
תַּ֭כֶּה (tak·keh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

a mocker,
לֵ֣ץ (lêṣ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3887: Ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker

and the simple
וּפֶ֣תִי (ū·p̄e·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6612: Simple, perhaps open-minded

will beware;
יַעְרִ֑ם (ya‘·rim)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6191: To be, bare, to be cunning

rebuke
וְהוֹכִ֥יחַ (wə·hō·w·ḵî·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3198: To be right, reciprocal, to argue, to decide, justify, convict

the discerning [man],
לְ֝נָב֗וֹן (lə·nā·ḇō·wn)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

and he will gain
יָבִ֥ין (yā·ḇîn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

knowledge.
דָּֽעַת׃ (dā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 19:25 Flog a scoffer and the simple will (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 19:24
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