King James Version

Proverbs 19:25

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

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Hebrew

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לֵ֣ץletsmake a mockלוּץadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “make a mock”, the ordinary formH3887properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercedeambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher.תַּ֭כֶּהtakehstrikeנָכָהverb, hiphil, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “strike”, an unfinished actionH5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.וּפֶ֣תִיufetiand foolishפְּתִיconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and foolish”, the ordinary formH6612silly (i.e. seducible)foolish, simple(-icity, one).יַעְרִ֑םyarimbe prudentעָרַםverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be prudent”, an unfinished actionH6191properly, to be (or make) bare; but used only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense)[idiom] very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.וְהוֹכִ֥יחַvehokhichaand argueיָכַחconjunction, verb, hiphil, infinitive construct — “and argue”, the to-form of the verbH3198to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convictappoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove(-r), surely, in any wise.לְ֝נָב֗וֹןlenavonto understandבִּיןpreposition, verb, niphal, participle, absolute — “to understand”, a verb used as a describing wordH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…יָבִ֥יןyavinunderstandבִּיןverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “understand”, an unfinished actionH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…דָּֽעַתdaatcunningדַּעַתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “cunning”, the ordinary formH1847knowledgecunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

When thou smitest a scorner, the simple will become prudent; and when one that hath understanding is reproved, he will understand knowledge.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Young’s Literal Translation

A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.

World English Bible

Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Darby Translation

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove the intelligent, and he will understand knowledge.

Douay-Rheims

The wicked man being; scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man he will understand discipline.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

When thou smitest a scorner, the simple will become prudent; and when one that hath understanding is reproved, he will understand knowledge.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if thou reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Λοιμοῦ μαστιγουμένου, ἄφρων πανουργότερος γίνεται· ἐὰν δὲ ἐλέγχῃς ἄνδρα φρόνιμον, νοήσει αἴσθησιν.