Proverbs 9:12 
Context| NET © | If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, 1 but if you are a mocker, 2 you alone must 3 bear it. 4 |
| NIV © | If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." |
| NASB © | If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it. |
| NLT © | If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. |
| MSG © | Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you. |
| BBE © | If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it. |
| NRSV © | If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. |
| NKJV © | If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone." |
| KJV | |
| NASB © | |
| HEBREW | |
| LXXM | akarpian {N-ASF} |
| NET © [draft] ITL | |
| NET © | If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, 1 but if you are a mocker, 2 you alone must 3 bear it. 4 |
| NET © Notes |
1 tn The text simply has the preposition לְ (lamed) with a suffix; but this will be the use of the preposition classified as “interest,” either for advantage or disadvantage (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 48-49, §271). 2 tn The perfect tense is here in a conditional clause because of the conjunction following the first colon of the verse that begins with “if.” The perfect tense then lays down the antithetical condition – “if you mock,” or “if you are a mocker.” 3 tn The use of the imperfect tense here could be the simple future tense (cf. NASB, NRSV “you…will bear it”), but the obligatory nuance is more appropriate – “you must bear it.” These words anticipate James’ warnings that the words we speak will haunt us through life (e.g., James 3:1-12). 4 tc The LXX has an addition: “Forsake folly, that you may reign forever; and seek discretion and direct understanding in knowledge.” |
