Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, June 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Read the Bible
JPS Old Testament
Proverbs 21:11
When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth 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:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser; and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.
When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser; and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.
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.
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 the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth 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
And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!'
And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!'
Genesis 21:1
And the LORD remembered Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken.
And the LORD remembered Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken.
Genesis 21:2
And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
2 Samuel 18:33
span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jps" data-ref="2sa.18.1" class="versetxt"> And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people: 'I will surely go forth with you myself also.' But the people said: 'Thou shalt not go forth; for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; but thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succour us out of the city.' And the king said unto them: 'What seemeth you best I will do.' And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying: 'Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.' And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth, and his head caught hold of the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said: 'Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.' And Joab said unto the man that told him: 'And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have had to give thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle.' And the man said unto Joab: 'Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying: Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against mine own life--and there is no matter hid from the king--then thou thyself wouldest have stood aloof.' Then said Joab: 'I may not tarry thus with thee.' And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth. And ten young men that bore Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the horn, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones; and all Israel fled every one to his tent.-- Now Absalom in his life-time had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said: 'I have no son to keep my name in remembrance'; and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument unto this day. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok: 'Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.' And Joab said unto him: 'Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, forasmuch as the king's son is dead.' Then said Joab to the Cushite: 'Go tell the king what thou hast seen.' And the Cushite bowed down unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab: 'But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite.' And Joab said: 'Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou wilt have no reward for the tidings?' 'But come what may, [said he,] I will run.' And he said unto him: 'Run.' Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and overran the Cushite. Now David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said: 'If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth.' And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the porter, and said: 'Behold another man running alone.' And the king said: 'He also bringeth tidings.' And the watchman said: 'I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.' And the king said: 'He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.' And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king: 'All is well.' And he bowed down before the king with his face to the earth, and said: 'Blessed be the LORD thy God, who hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.' And the king said: 'Is it well with the young man Absalom?' And Ahimaaz answered: 'When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.' And the king said: 'Turn aside, and stand here.' And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said: 'Tidings for my lord the king; for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.' And the king said unto the Cushite: 'Is it well with the young man Absalom?' And the Cushite answered: 'The enemies of my lord the king and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.'
span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jps" data-ref="2sa.18.1" class="versetxt"> And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people: 'I will surely go forth with you myself also.' But the people said: 'Thou shalt not go forth; for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; but thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succour us out of the city.' And the king said unto them: 'What seemeth you best I will do.' And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying: 'Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.' And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth, and his head caught hold of the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said: 'Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.' And Joab said unto the man that told him: 'And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have had to give thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle.' And the man said unto Joab: 'Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying: Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against mine own life--and there is no matter hid from the king--then thou thyself wouldest have stood aloof.' Then said Joab: 'I may not tarry thus with thee.' And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth. And ten young men that bore Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the horn, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones; and all Israel fled every one to his tent.-- Now Absalom in his life-time had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said: 'I have no son to keep my name in remembrance'; and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument unto this day. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok: 'Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.' And Joab said unto him: 'Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, forasmuch as the king's son is dead.' Then said Joab to the Cushite: 'Go tell the king what thou hast seen.' And the Cushite bowed down unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab: 'But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite.' And Joab said: 'Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou wilt have no reward for the tidings?' 'But come what may, [said he,] I will run.' And he said unto him: 'Run.' Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and overran the Cushite. Now David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said: 'If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth.' And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the porter, and said: 'Behold another man running alone.' And the king said: 'He also bringeth tidings.' And the watchman said: 'I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.' And the king said: 'He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.' And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king: 'All is well.' And he bowed down before the king with his face to the earth, and said: 'Blessed be the LORD thy God, who hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.' And the king said: 'Is it well with the young man Absalom?' And Ahimaaz answered: 'When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.' And the king said: 'Turn aside, and stand here.' And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said: 'Tidings for my lord the king; for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.' And the king said unto the Cushite: 'Is it well with the young man Absalom?' And the Cushite answered: 'The enemies of my lord the king and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.'
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.
