Proverbs 9:12

Proverbs 9:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
• New International Version (NIV)If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Context of Proverbs 9:12

10“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” 13A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. 14For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,

Proverbs 9:12 word by word

אִם־חָ֭כַמְתָּ חָכַ֣מְתָּ לָּ֑ךְ וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ לְֽבַדְּךָ֥ תִשָּֽׂא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If thou be wiseחָכַםchâkam · be wiseH2449
• thou scornestלִיץlûts · to mockH3887
• thou alone shalt bearנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375

Cross-references for Proverbs 9:12

• Proverbs 16:26The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.
• Job 22:2“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
• Job 35:6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
• Isaiah 28:22Now therefore, do not be mockers, Lest your bonds be made strong; For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, A destruction determined even upon the whole earth.
• Ezekiel 18:20The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
• 2 Peter 3:3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

Commentaries on Proverbs 9:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12If thou be wise - It is thy own interest to be religious. Though thy example may be very useful to thy neighbors and friends, yet the chief benefit is to thyself. But if thou scorn - refuse to receive - the doctrines of wisdom, and die in thy sins, thou alone shalt suffer the vengeance of an offended God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The great law of personal retribution (compare Matthew 7:2). The Septuagint makes a curious addition to this verse, “My son, if thou wilt be wise for thyself, thou shalt be wise also for thy neighbors; but if thou turn out evil, thou alone shalt bear evil. He who resteth on lies shall guide the winds, and the same shall hunt after winged birds, for he hath left the ways of his own vineyard, and has gone astray with the wheels of his own husbandry. He…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12fear of the LORD: Refer to study note on Proverbs 1:7.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. You are mainly concerned in your own conduct.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 9:12

• Infidelity
• Scoffing
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Blot
• Forsake
• Mouth
• Secret
• Stolen
• Tender
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Scorn

Commentaries on Proverbs 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings