Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Complete Jewish Bible
Proverbs 21:11
When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser; and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
When a mocker is punished,the inexperienced become wiser;when one teaches a wise man,he acquires knowledge.
When a mocker is punished,the inexperienced become wiser;when one teaches a wise man,he acquires knowledge.
Hebrew Names Version
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom; When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom; When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
King James Version
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
English Standard Version
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
New American Standard Bible
When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
New Century Version
If you punish those who make fun of wisdom, a foolish person may gain some wisdom. But if you teach the wise, they will get knowledge.
If you punish those who make fun of wisdom, a foolish person may gain some wisdom. But if you teach the wise, they will get knowledge.
Amplified Bible
When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise; But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise; But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
World English Bible
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom; When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom; When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Geneva Bible (1587)
When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue knowledge.
Legacy Standard Bible
When the scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;And when one considers wisdom, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;And when one considers wisdom, he receives knowledge.
Berean Standard Bible
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
Contemporary English Version
An ignorant fool learns by seeing others punished; a sensible person learns by being instructed.
An ignorant fool learns by seeing others punished; a sensible person learns by being instructed.
Darby Translation
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Easy-to-Read Version
When you punish a proud person who laughs at what is right, even fools will learn something. But a little instruction is enough for the wise to learn what they should.
When you punish a proud person who laughs at what is right, even fools will learn something. But a little instruction is enough for the wise to learn what they should.
George Lamsa Translation
When a wicked man suffers harm, even the simple become wise; but a wise man receives knowledge through his own counsel.
When a wicked man suffers harm, even the simple become wise; but a wise man receives knowledge through his own counsel.
Good News Translation
When someone who is conceited gets his punishment, even an unthinking person learns a lesson. One who is wise will learn from what he is taught.
When someone who is conceited gets his punishment, even an unthinking person learns a lesson. One who is wise will learn from what he is taught.
Lexham English Bible
With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise, and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.
With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise, and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.
Literal Translation
The simple is made wise when the scorner is punished, and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
The simple is made wise when the scorner is punished, and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
When the scornefull is punyshed, the ignoraunt take ye better hede: & when a wyse man is warned, he wil receaue the more vnderstondinge.
When the scornefull is punyshed, the ignoraunt take ye better hede: & when a wyse man is warned, he wil receaue the more vnderstondinge.
American Standard Version
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Bible in Basic English
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
King James Version (1611)
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiueth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiueth knowledge.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When the scornefull is punished, the ignoraunt take the better heede: and when the wyse is instructed, he wyll receaue vnderstanding.
When the scornefull is punished, the ignoraunt take the better heede: and when the wyse is instructed, he wyll receaue vnderstanding.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
English Revised Version
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whanne a man ful of pestilence is punyschid, a litil man of wit schal be the wisere; and if he sueth a wijs man, he schal take kunnyng.
Whanne a man ful of pestilence is punyschid, a litil man of wit schal be the wisere; and if he sueth a wijs man, he schal take kunnyng.
Update Bible Version
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Webster's Bible Translation
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
New English Translation
When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
New King James Version
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
New Living Translation
If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
New Life Bible
When the man who laughs at the truth is punished, the fool becomes wise. When a wise man is taught, he gets much learning.
When the man who laughs at the truth is punished, the fool becomes wise. When a wise man is taught, he gets much learning.
New Revised Standard
When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser; when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.
When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser; when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Douay-Rheims Bible
When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.
When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.
Revised Standard Version
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
Young's Literal Translation
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.
THE MESSAGE
Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.
Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Contextual Overview
11 When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser; and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the scorner: Proverbs 19:25, Numbers 16:34, Deuteronomy 13:11, Deuteronomy 21:21, Psalms 64:7-9, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 10:6-11, Hebrews 2:1-3, Hebrews 10:28, Hebrews 10:29, Revelation 11:13
when the wise: Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 9:9, Proverbs 15:14, Proverbs 18:1, Proverbs 18:15
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 17:12 - thou shalt Deuteronomy 19:20 - General Proverbs 1:22 - the scorners
Cross-References
Genesis 17:18
Avraham said to God, "If only Yishma‘el could live in your presence!"
Avraham said to God, "If only Yishma‘el could live in your presence!"
Genesis 21:1
Adonai remembered Sarah as he had said, and Adonai did for Sarah what he had promised.
Adonai remembered Sarah as he had said, and Adonai did for Sarah what he had promised.
Genesis 21:2
Sarah conceived and bore Avraham a son in his old age, at the very time God had said to him.
Sarah conceived and bore Avraham a son in his old age, at the very time God had said to him.
2 Samuel 18:33
David took a census of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds. Then David dispatched the people, a third of them under the command of Yo'av, a third under Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah, Yo'av's brother, and a third under Ittai the Gitti; and the king said to the people, "I will also go out with you, myself." But the people replied, "Don't go out; because if we flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; so it is better now that you stay in the city and be ready if we need help." The king answered them, "I will do whatever you think best." So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. The king gave orders to Yo'av, Avishai and Ittai, "For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom." All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom. So the people went out into the field against Isra'el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim. The people of Isra'el were defeated there by David's servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men. For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword. Avshalom happened to meet some of David's servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him. Someone saw it and told Yo'av, "I saw Avshalom hanging in a terebinth." Yo'av asked the man who told him, "Here now, you saw it; so why didn't you strike him to the ground then and there? I would have had to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt besides." The man replied to Yo'av, "Even if I were to get a thousand pieces of silver, I still wouldn't raise my hand against the son of the king! After all, while we were listening, the king ordered you, Avishai and Ittai, ‘Be careful that no one touches young Avshalom.' Or, if I had pretended that I didn't know, the king would have known otherwise anyway; and you wouldn't have interceded for me either." Yo'av said, "I can't waste time arguing with you!" He took three darts in his hand and rammed them through Avshalom's heart while he was still alive, hanging from the terebinth. Then Yo'av's ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him. Yo'av sounded the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing Isra'el, because Yo'av held back the troops. They took Avshalom and threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled a big heap of stones over him. All Isra'el fled, each one to his tent. In his own lifetime Avshalom had taken and raised for himself the pillar which stands in the King's Valley; because he said, "I don't have a son to preserve the memory of my name." So he named the pillar after himself, and it's called Avshalom's Monument to this day. Then Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok said, "Let me run now and bring news to the king that Adonai has judged in his favor by releasing him from his enemies." Yo'av said to him, "You are not to be the one to bring the news today; you can convey news another day; but today you will not bring news, because the king's son is dead." Then Yo'av said to the Ethiopian, "Go, tell the king what you saw." The Ethiopian bowed to Yo'av, then ran off. But Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok said again to Yo'av, "Come what may, please let me also run after the Ethiopian." Yo'av answered, "Why do you want to run, my son? You won't receive any reward for bringing the news." "I don't care — whatever happens, I want to run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Achima‘atz ran by the road through the desert flats and outran the Ethiopian. David was sitting between the two gates. A watchman went up to the roof of the gate and out onto the wall, raised his eyes, looked, and saw there a man running by himself. The watchman cried out and told the king. The king said, "If he's alone, he has good news to tell." As he ran along and came close, the watchman saw another man running and called to the gatekeeper, "There's another man running by himself." The king said, "He too must have good news." The watchman said, "The first one runs like Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok." The king said, "He's a good man, he comes with good news." Achima‘atz called to the king, "Shalom," prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Blessed be Adonai your God, who has handed over the men who rebelled against my lord the king." The king asked, "Is everything all right with young Avshalom?" Achima‘atz answered, "When Yo'av sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a big commotion; but I didn't know what it was." The king said, "Go, and stand over there." So he went and stood there. Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, "There's good news for my lord the king, for Adonai has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you." The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is everything all right with young Avshalom?" The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is."
David took a census of the people who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds. Then David dispatched the people, a third of them under the command of Yo'av, a third under Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah, Yo'av's brother, and a third under Ittai the Gitti; and the king said to the people, "I will also go out with you, myself." But the people replied, "Don't go out; because if we flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; so it is better now that you stay in the city and be ready if we need help." The king answered them, "I will do whatever you think best." So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. The king gave orders to Yo'av, Avishai and Ittai, "For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom." All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom. So the people went out into the field against Isra'el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim. The people of Isra'el were defeated there by David's servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men. For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword. Avshalom happened to meet some of David's servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him. Someone saw it and told Yo'av, "I saw Avshalom hanging in a terebinth." Yo'av asked the man who told him, "Here now, you saw it; so why didn't you strike him to the ground then and there? I would have had to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt besides." The man replied to Yo'av, "Even if I were to get a thousand pieces of silver, I still wouldn't raise my hand against the son of the king! After all, while we were listening, the king ordered you, Avishai and Ittai, ‘Be careful that no one touches young Avshalom.' Or, if I had pretended that I didn't know, the king would have known otherwise anyway; and you wouldn't have interceded for me either." Yo'av said, "I can't waste time arguing with you!" He took three darts in his hand and rammed them through Avshalom's heart while he was still alive, hanging from the terebinth. Then Yo'av's ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him. Yo'av sounded the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing Isra'el, because Yo'av held back the troops. They took Avshalom and threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled a big heap of stones over him. All Isra'el fled, each one to his tent. In his own lifetime Avshalom had taken and raised for himself the pillar which stands in the King's Valley; because he said, "I don't have a son to preserve the memory of my name." So he named the pillar after himself, and it's called Avshalom's Monument to this day. Then Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok said, "Let me run now and bring news to the king that Adonai has judged in his favor by releasing him from his enemies." Yo'av said to him, "You are not to be the one to bring the news today; you can convey news another day; but today you will not bring news, because the king's son is dead." Then Yo'av said to the Ethiopian, "Go, tell the king what you saw." The Ethiopian bowed to Yo'av, then ran off. But Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok said again to Yo'av, "Come what may, please let me also run after the Ethiopian." Yo'av answered, "Why do you want to run, my son? You won't receive any reward for bringing the news." "I don't care — whatever happens, I want to run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Achima‘atz ran by the road through the desert flats and outran the Ethiopian. David was sitting between the two gates. A watchman went up to the roof of the gate and out onto the wall, raised his eyes, looked, and saw there a man running by himself. The watchman cried out and told the king. The king said, "If he's alone, he has good news to tell." As he ran along and came close, the watchman saw another man running and called to the gatekeeper, "There's another man running by himself." The king said, "He too must have good news." The watchman said, "The first one runs like Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok." The king said, "He's a good man, he comes with good news." Achima‘atz called to the king, "Shalom," prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Blessed be Adonai your God, who has handed over the men who rebelled against my lord the king." The king asked, "Is everything all right with young Avshalom?" Achima‘atz answered, "When Yo'av sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a big commotion; but I didn't know what it was." The king said, "Go, and stand over there." So he went and stood there. Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, "There's good news for my lord the king, for Adonai has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you." The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is everything all right with young Avshalom?" The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is."
Matthew 10:37
Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.
Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.
Hebrews 12:11
Now, all discipline , while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness.
Now, all discipline , while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
When the scorner is punished,.... Either by the immediate hand of God, or by the civil magistrate; he who scoffs at Deity, blasphemes the most High, mocks at all religion, despises dominion, and speaks evil of dignities:
the simple is made wise; who is weak and foolish, easily persuaded and drawn into sin, yet not hardened in it, but open to reproof and conviction; he takes notice of the punishment of scorners, and takes warning from it, and behaves more wisely and cautiously for the future; see Proverbs 19:25;
and when the wise is instructed; by others, superior to him in wisdom; by the ministers of the Gospel, by reading and hearing the word of God, and the writings of good men; or by corrections and chastisements:
he receiveth knowledge; the wise man receives it, he attends to the instruction given him, and improves in knowledge: or rather the simple man gains knowledge by the instructions given to wise men; he learns by them, as well as by what he is taught himself. It is by some rendered, "when the wise prospers, he receiveth knowledge" x the simple man learns much both from the adversity and prosperity of others; and to this sense is the note of Gersom,
"when he sees how the ways of a wise man prosper, then he studies to get knowledge.''
x So Munster, and some in Mercer.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 21:11. When the scorner is punished — When those who mock at religion, blaspheme against its Author, and endeavour to poison society, and disturb the peace of the community by their false doctrine, meet with that degree of punishment which their crimes, as far as they affect the public peace, deserve; then the simple, who were either led away, or in danger of being led away, by their pernicious doctrines, are made wise. And when those thus made wise are instructed in the important truths which have been decried by those unprincipled men, then they receive knowledge; and one such public example is made a blessing to thousands. But only blasphemy against God and the Bible should be thus punished. Private opinion the state should not meddle with.
