This verse illustrates the compact structure of many of these ancient sayings as well as the way in which the second line carries the sense forward, strengthens it, and closes it with a punch word.

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge”: “Whoever loves” translates a masculine singular form meaning “the one loving.” “Discipline” renders the same word first used in Revised Standard Version in 1.2 and translated “instruction.” “Discipline” is the training in self-control that aims to produce moral and mental improvement in the learner. In some languages to “love discipline” is expressed as “being happy when someone corrects you” or “wanting someone to put you straight when you go wrong.” This makes a good contrast with the matching expression in line 2, “hates reproof”. For “knowledge” see the discussion of 1.4.

“But he who hates reproof is stupid” has a compressed form in Hebrew “but-one-hating correction stupid.” “Hates”, which contrasts with “loves” in the first line, means to feel dislike or hostility toward someone or something (see 1.22). “Reproof”, used first in 1.23, refers to correction or rebuke given to someone who is at fault. “Stupid” translates a term used only in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. In Psa 73.22 it is used in parallel with Hebrew behemoth “beast.” It suggests the idea of a dumb animal, a brute.

If the translation of the verse is to be compressed in the Hebrew style, it may be possible to say, for example,”Love discipline and learn, reject it and be stupid.”

A rendering that reveals the contrasting parallelism is, for example, “If you love discipline, you will love knowledge, but if you hate correction, you will be stupid.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .