Translation commentary on Proverbs 9:7

“He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse”: “Corrects” means to reprove, admonish, or scold someone for the purpose of improving their behavior. “Scoffer” translates the same word as used in 3.34, where it is in contrast with “the humble.” Here it refers to a person who resists correction and instruction. Such people think they are above being improved. Bible en français courant says “the proud,” and Good News Translation “conceited people,” which expresses the idea well in English. The sense of “abuse” is probably “contempt.” To be treated with contempt in this context is to receive disrespect or dishonor, as used in the command not to dishonor father or mother in Deut 27.16. We may translate “gets himself abuse” as “gets disrespect in return.” The full line may be rendered, for example, “If you correct a conceited person, he will show you nothing but disrespect.”

“He who reproves a wicked man incurs injury”: This line is very similar in meaning to line 1. “Reproves” matches “corrects” in the first line. “Wicked” is a masculine singular adjective in the Hebrew text but is to be taken in a general sense, as in New Revised Standard Version “the wicked” or Good News Translation “evil people.” “Injury” is literally “his blemish,” which is not entirely clear. Some take this word to mean that the moral defect in the evil person is passed on to the one who “reproves” him. New English Bible has “and you will put yourself in the wrong,” while Revised English Bible says “you will acquire his faults.” This interpretation does not seem to fit the context as well as Revised Standard Version. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy combines the two lines: “Correct the insolent and the evil person, and they will only succeed in insulting and offending you.” Contemporary English Version has “Correct a worthless bragger, and all you will get are insults and injuries.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 9:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 9:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “If you (sing.) correct a person who is boastful/proud, (he/she) will oppose you, or/and if you show a sinner that he is doing things/matters that are evil, he will sneer at you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Anyone who tries
    to correct an arrogant person,
    will have to live having been dishonored.
    Those who rebuke the wicked
    will get hurt.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) rebuke a man who mocks, he will-insult you (sing.). If you (sing.) rebuke a wicked man, he will-hurt you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The one who advises one who mocks/belittles and one who does what is evil, he will be derided and shamed only.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 9:7

Paragraph 9:7–12

In this paragraph, the author or teacher contrasts the different ways in which a wise person and a mocker respond to advice. He also emphasizes that it is important to fear the LORD in order to become wise.

In Hebrew, the “you” pronouns used in this paragraph are singular. The Display will also use you(sing). You may use whatever forms are natural in your language.

9:7

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

7a
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself ;

7b
he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

9:7a–b

corrects…rebukes: The Hebrew verb yasar, which the Berean Standard Bible translates here as corrects, comes from the same root as musar “moral instruction.” It means to try to change or improve someone else’s behavior by instructing, scolding, or disciplining him. The word translated as rebukes means “reprimand” (Good News Translation) or “scolds.” The same verb is also used in the two lines of 9:8.

a mocker…a wicked man: Although a mocker is also “conceited” (Good News Translation) and a “bragger” (Contemporary English Version), the word refers mainly to someone who scorns or makes fun of someone or something. The Hebrew text does not specify who or what a mocker mocks. If it is necessary to make this explicit in your language, see the suggestions in the note on 1:22b. The word wicked is a general word that describes anyone who is evil.

brings shame on himself…taints himself: The phrase translated as brings shame on himself means “to procure/get” insult for oneself. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

earn abuse (Revised English Bible)
-or-
receives abuse (God’s Word)
-or-
you will only be insulted (Good News Translation)

The word shame also means “dishonor” or “contempt.” These words all refer to verbal insult or abuse of some kind. The parallel word taints probably includes the idea of physical harm as well as verbal abuse. For example:

gets hurt (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
incurs injury (English Standard Version)

The meaning of the whole verse is expressed well by the New Century Version:

If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted. If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt. (New Century Version)

Notice that both lines express a consequence. Being insulted and harmed is the consequence of correcting someone.

General Comment on 9:7a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. This will avoid the implication that correcting a mocker will have a different result from rebuking a wicked person. For example:

If you correct or rebuke an evil person who makes fun of wisdom, you will only be insulted and injured.

See also 9:7a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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