9:8

This verse contains parallel parts that contrast in meaning. The situation in the second line contrasts strongly with the first line.

8a
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you ;

8b
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9:8a

Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you: The second clause he will hate you gives the motivation for obeying the advice Do not rebuke a mocker. If a person disobeys that advice, the result is that the mocker will hate him. This relationship may be expressed in various ways. For example:

Do not rebuke a mocker lest he hate you
-or-
If you rebuke a mocker, he will hate you
-or-
A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you (New Revised Standard Version)

rebuke a mocker: See the notes on 9:7a–b.

hate: The word hate implies rejection as well as strong dislike. See the notes on 1:22b and 8:36b.

9:8b

rebuke a wise man: This line contrasts with the first line, so in some languages, it may be more natural to introduce the line with “However” or “By contrast.”

and he will love you: In Hebrew, the word love can refer to many types of love, including the LORD’s love for people and various kinds of human love. If your language has more than one word for love, choose a word that would be used for the love that a wise person would feel toward someone whose rebuke he appreciated. If there is no appropriate word for this kind of love, you may be able to use an expression like the Revised English Bible:

and he will be your friend (Revised English Bible)

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