PROV 21:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

21:11 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ζημιουμένου ἀκολάστου πανουργότερος γίνεται ὁ ἄκακος, συνιῶν δὲ σοφὸς δέξεται γνῶσιν.
(Zaʸmioumenou akolastou panourgoteros ginetai ho akakos, suniōn de sofos dexetai gnōsin. )

BrTr When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.

ULT When fining a mocker, a naive one becomes wise,
⇔ and when giving insight to a wise one, he receives knowledge.

UST If you punish people who ridicule others, then naive people who see you do that will become wise,
⇔ and if you teach wise people, they will become even more knowledgeable.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.
⇔ When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise;
⇔ when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

LSV When the scorner is punished, the simple becomes wise,
And in giving understanding to the wise He receives knowledge.

FBV When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.

T4T ⇔ When those who ridicule others are punished, even those who do not have good sense see that, and they become wise,
⇔ and when those who are wise are taught, they become wiser.

LEB • With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise, and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.

BBE When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.

Moff When a scoffer is punished, the fool gets a lesson
⇔ men of sense learn by being taught.

JPS When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

ASV When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
⇔ And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

DRA When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.

YLT When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

Drby When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

RV When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

SLT In punishing him mocking, the simple shall become wise: and in instruction to the wise one he will take knowledge.

Wbstr When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

KJB-1769 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

KJB-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 receives knowledge.)

Bshps When the scornefull is punished, the ignoraunt take the better heede: and when the wyse is instructed, he wyll receaue vnderstanding.
(When the scornful is punished, the ignorant take the better heed: and when the wise is instructed, he will receive understanding.)

Gnva 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 will receive knowledge. )

Cvdl 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 scornful is punished, the ignorant take ye/you_all better heed: and when a wise man is warned, he will receive the more understanding.)

Wycl 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.
(When a man full of pestilence is punished, a little man of wit shall be the wisere; and if he sueth a wise man, he shall take cunning.)

Luth Wenn der Spötter gestraft wird, so werden die Albernen weise; und wenn man einen Weisen unterrichtet, so wird er vernünftig.
(When the/of_the mockers punished becomes, so become the Foolish_one(s) wise; and when man a ways/manners taught/informed, so becomes he reasonable.)

ClVg Mulctato pestilente, sapientior erit parvulus, et si sectetur sapientem, sumet scientiam.
(Mulctato pestilente, wiser will_be little_one, and when/but_if sectetur wise, sumet knowledge. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

21:11

This proverb is similar to 19:25. See the notes on that verse. It contrasts the results of disciplining or educating different kinds of people. It also contrasts the ways that different kinds of people gain wisdom or knowledge.

The parallel structure pairs “a mocker” with “a wise man.” But the main contrast is between the learning ability of a person who is simple and a person who is wise.According to UBS (page 445), Ross (page 1053), and Whybray (page 310), the main contrast is between the simple and the wise. However, as UBS points out, the focus of this contrast is in the way these two kinds of people learn. Fox (page 684) and Toy (page 402) also discuss the contrast between the simple person’s inability to learn directly from instruction and the wise person’s ability to do so. No contrast is intended between the parallel phrases “gain wisdom” and “gets knowledge.”

^11a When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

^11b when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

As in 19:25, the parallelism is not exact. The parallel lines function together to imply several things:

A “mocker” learns nothing when he is punished.
A “simple” person does not learn from simply listening to instruction, but he does learn from observing the punishment of the mocker.
A “wise man” learns far more easily than a simple person. He is able to learn from verbal instruction. He does not need to see someone else being punished.

21:11a

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

When a mocker/scorner receives a punishment, an immature/naive person who sees it happen becomes wiser.
A person who lacks experience is able to learn a lesson only if he sees a person who makes fun of others being punished.

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom: For the words mocker and simple, see the notes on 19:25a. Also see mocker and simple in the Glossary.

is punished: In 19:25a, it specifies that a mocker is beaten or flogged. Here the punishment is not specified. But it is probably a harsh physical punishment that will make an impression on the inexperienced or naïve person.

Some other ways to translate 21:11a are:

When the scoffer is punished, the naïve becomes wise (NASB)

If you punish a scornful person, someone with little experience may learn a lesson from it.

If it is difficult to understand the contrast between the two ways of learning, consider changing the order of the two clauses. For example:

A naive person becomes wiser only if he sees a scornful person being punished.

Also see the last meaning line in the Display for 21:11a.

21:11b

and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

A person who is already wise adds to what he knows when someone merely teaches him.
As for a person who is wise, teaching/instruction alone is enough to help him learn more.

and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge: This line refers to giving additional insight to a person who is already wise. When such a person is instructed (literally “caused to have insight”), he gains even more knowledge about how to deal with the situations he faces in life.According to BART, the first clause in 21:11b is literally “when (one) instructs (to) a wise (person).” The Hiphil verb form used here functions as a causative. BDB (#7919) defines it as “cause to consider, give insight, teach.” In Proverbs, the various forms of this word usually refer to practical insight or good sense. They are listed under “wise dealing” in the Glossary.

he acquires knowledge: See the note on the similar phrase in 19:25b. See knowledge in the Glossary.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser (NLT)

One who is wise will learn from what he is taught (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לֵ֭ץ & פֶּ֑תִי & לְ֝⁠חָכָ֗ם

scoffer & simple & (to)_a,wise_[person]

See how you translated a mocker in [9:7](../09/07.md), a naive one in [14:15](../14/15.md), and a wise one in [1:5](../01/05.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יֶחְכַּם־פֶּ֑תִי

become_wiser simple

Solomon assumes that his readers will understand that a naive one will become wise as the result of seeing someone fining a mocker. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “a naive one will see this happen and become wise”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠בְ⁠הַשְׂכִּ֥יל

and,when,instruct

Here Solomon speaks of someone teaching insight to a wise one as if insight were an object that a person gives. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and when teaching insight”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וּ⁠בְ⁠הַשְׂכִּ֥יל & דָּֽעַת

and,when,instruct & knowledge

See how you translated the abstract nouns insight in [1:3](../01/03.md) and knowledge in [1:4](../01/04.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִקַּח־דָּֽעַת

increase knowledge

Here Solomon speaks of something learning knowledge as if it were an object that a person receives. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “he learns knowledge”

Parallel PROV 21:11

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

21:11

21:11a

21:11b