Proverbs 29:1

The one who stiffens his neck ¹  after numerous rebukes ²  will suddenly be destroyed ³  without remedy. ⁴ 

A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair.

For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it'll be too late to help them.

A man hating sharp words and making his heart hard, will suddenly be broken and will not be made well again.

One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

The one who stiffens his neck ¹  after numerous rebukes ²  will suddenly be destroyed ³  without remedy. ⁴ 

¹ tn The idiom “to harden the neck” (מַקְשֶׁה־עֹרֶף, maqsheh-’oref) is the idea of resisting the rebukes and persisting in obstinacy (e.g., Exod 32:9). The opposite of a “stiff neck” would be the bending back, i.e., submission.

² tn The Hebrew construction is אִישׁ תּוֹכָחוֹת (’ish tokhakhot, “a man of rebukes”), meaning “a man who has (or receives) many rebukes.” This describes a person who is deserving of punishment and who has been given many warnings. The text says, then, “a man of rebukes hardening himself.”

³ sn The stubborn person refuses to listen; he will suddenly be destroyed when the calamity strikes (e.g., Prov 6:15; 13:18; 15:10).

⁴ tn Or “healing” (NRSV).