Back to Proverbs 9

Proverbs 9:6-8

Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

    One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

    Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

  • KJV King James Version

    Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

    He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

    Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.

    He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him a blot.

    Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

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Cross-references (37)

  • Psalms 141:5 (v8) Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is…
  • Proverbs 13:18 (v8) Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
  • Proverbs 23:9 (vv7–8) Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
  • Proverbs 15:12 (vv7–8) A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
  • Proverbs 13:20 (v6) One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Show all 35 cross-references
  • Proverbs 29:1 (v8) He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
  • Matthew 7:6 (v8) “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and…
  • Proverbs 28:23 (v8) One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
  • Proverbs 4:11 (v6) I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
  • Leviticus 19:17 (v8) “ ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:16 (v7) but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people,…
  • Matthew 15:14 (v8) Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
  • Luke 13:24 (v6) “Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.
  • Hebrews 6:4-8 (v8) For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the…
  • 2 Samuel 12:7-14 (v8) Nathan said to David, “You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you…
  • 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 (v7) The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “God says, ‘Why do you…
  • 2 Chronicles 25:15-16 (v7) Therefore 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…
  • 2 Peter 3:15-16 (v8) Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you, as…
  • Genesis 19:8-9 (v7) See 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…
  • Numbers 14:6-10 (v8) Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes. They spoke to all the…
  • 1 Kings 18:17 (v7) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
  • 1 Kings 21:20 (v7) Ahab 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…
  • 1 Kings 22:24 (v7) Then 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…
  • 1 Kings 22:27 (v7) Say, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in…
  • 2 Corinthians 6:17 (v6) Therefore “ ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
  • 1 Kings 1:23 (v8) They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his…
  • Psalms 26:4-6 (v6) I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the…
  • Psalms 45:10 (v6) Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
  • Psalms 119:115 (v6) Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
  • Proverbs 4:14-15 (v6) Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
  • Proverbs 8:35 (v6) For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
  • Proverbs 9:11 (v6) For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
  • Matthew 7:13-14 (v6) “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.…
  • Acts 2:40 (v6) With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
  • Revelation 18:4 (v6) I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t…

35 distinct cross-references across this passage (37 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (18 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv7–8 For the wicked will contemn him and labor to…

For the wicked will contemn him and labor to defame him.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Pro 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6–8 The foolish, i.e. the wicked, and their courses and…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Forsake the foolish,.... Foolish men and their company; not…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv7–8 A former - He shews whom he meant by…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Verse 6. Forsake the foolish] For the companion of…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv7–8 Pro 9:7. He that reproveth a scorner — “This…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v7 These verses seem somewhat to interrupt the continuity of…
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain On v7 Wisdom’s messengers must discriminate in the proclamation of their…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v7 Scorner. This is the reason why wisdom speaks only…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v7 shame--(Compare Pro 3:35).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6–8 6. The foolish — Same word as in Pro_9:4,…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–7 6. Forsake the foolish] Rather, forsake, ye simple (sc.…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–7 (6) Forsake the foolish.—Rather, the simple; be no longer…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Forsake the foolish, and live; Vulgate, relinquite infantiam; Septuagint,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v7 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6–7 9:6 Wisdom gives people the ability to navigate life…
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