Chapter
Verse
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Proverbs 9:8

ESV Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
NIV Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
NASB Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you; Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
CSB Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you.
NLT So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.
KJV Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
NKJV Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

What does Proverbs 9:8 mean?

Proverbs depicts wisdom as a woman calling out to anyone who will hear (Proverbs 8:1–4). In this chapter, that imagery includes Wisdom building a house and preparing a feast (Proverbs 9:1–6). Of course, not all people want to receive wisdom. Some, so committed to their own desires, will hatefully attack anyone who questions them (Proverbs 9:7). To "reprove" is to apply correction, conviction, reason, or pleading to another person. People inclined to mock or dismiss what they don't want to hear respond to correction with hatred. In contrast, a person with a wise attitude will appreciate the correction.

Jesus, the epitome of wisdom, called for repentance from sin. Those who wisely turn from their sin and believe in Jesus no longer love their sin but love Jesus. Peter, for example, admitted in the presence of Jesus that he was a sinful man, but when he became a believer and followed Jesus, he loved Jesus. His love was not always perfect, but he confessed that he loved Jesus (John 21:15–17). Later, he proved his love for Jesus by bravely proclaiming Him as Lord and Savior to a crowd of Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2:14–41) and by suffering for His sake (Acts 5:27–42; 12:1–5).
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