Focused Passage

Proverbs 9:7-12

Two Invitations: Wisdom's Feast, the Fear of the LORD, and Folly's House of Death

The chapter moves from Wisdom's feast, to the test of correction, to the theological center of the fear of the LORD, to Folly's counterfeit feast and hidden death.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

He who corrects יֹ֤סֵ֨ר׀ H3256 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular a mocker לֵ֗ץ H3887 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular brings לֹקֵ֣חַֽ H3947 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular shame קָל֑וֹן H7036 Noun - masculine singular on himself ל֣וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular he who rebukes וּמוֹכִ֖יחַ H3198 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular a wicked [man] לְרָשָׁ֣ע H7563 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular taints himself מוּמֽוֹ׃ H3971 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb rebuke תּ֣וֹכַח H3198 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular a mocker לֵ֭ץ H3887 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular or פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction he will hate you יִשְׂנָאֶ֑ךָּ H8130 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular rebuke הוֹכַ֥ח H3198 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular a wise [man] לְ֝חָכָ֗ם H2450 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular and he will love you וְיֶאֱהָבֶֽךָּ׃ H157 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Instruct תֵּ֣ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular a wise man לְ֭חָכָם H2450 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular and he will be wiser וְיֶחְכַּם־ H2449 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular still ע֑וֹד H5750 Adverb teach הוֹדַ֥ע H3045 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular a righteous man לְ֝צַדִּ֗יק H6662 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular and he will increase וְי֣וֹסֶף H3254 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular [his] learning לֶֽקַח׃פ H3948 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

The fear יִרְאַ֣ת H3374 Noun - feminine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is the beginning תְּחִלַּ֣ת H8462 Noun - feminine singular construct of wisdom חָ֭כְמָה H2451 Noun - feminine singular and knowledge וְדַ֖עַת H1847 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct of the Holy One קְדֹשִׁ֣ים H6918 Adjective - masculine plural is understanding בִּינָֽה׃ H998 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

For כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction through [wisdom] בִ֭י Preposition | first person common singular your days יָמֶ֑יךָ H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular will be multiplied יִרְבּ֣וּ H7235 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and years שְׁנ֣וֹת H8141 Noun - feminine plural construct will be added וְיוֹסִ֥יפוּ H3254 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural to your life חַיִּֽים׃ H2416 Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • LXX, Syriac, and Aramaic Targum; Hebrew through me
Verse 12

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you are wise חָ֭כַמְתָּ H2449 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular you are wise חָכַ֣מְתָּ H2449 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular to your own advantage לָּ֑ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular but if you scoff וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ H3887 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular you alone לְֽבַדְּךָ֥ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular will bear [the consequences] תִשָּֽׂא׃ H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.