“A wise son hears his father’s instruction”: In the Hebrew of this line there is no verb. Revised Standard Version has supplied “hears” from line 2. See also Good News Translation “pay attention.” Most translations do something similar. However, the verbless clause that says literally “A wise son [is] a father’s instruction” may be understood in two ways:

(1) by supplying a verb as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation; or
(2) “A wise son [is] the result of his father’s instruction.”

Hebrew Old Testament Text Project accepts both of these. Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible follows the second with “A wise son reflects the education of his father,” meaning the education received from his father. Some interpreters get a verb by changing the word rendered “father” to one meaning “loves.” New Revised Standard Version says “A wise child loves discipline.”

“Son” in Hebrew is masculine singular, but the thought is not restricted to male children. See Good News Translation. Contemporary English Version has “children with good sense.” “Instruction” renders a word first used in 1.2. See there for comments. “Father” is made inclusive by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version: “parents.” Most modern versions follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation by supplying some form of a “hearing” verb in line 1, and this is recommended by this Handbook. It is possible to restructure the line to say “If a child is wise, he will listen to the words of his father.”

“But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke”: For “scoffer” see 1.22. “Does not listen” means he pays no attention or does not accept. “Rebuke” means to scold, reprimand, or correct someone’s wrong behavior. See how “corrects a scoffer” was translated in 9.7.

In this verse “scoffer” contrasts with “wise son” (or, “wise child”). “Does not listen” contrasts with the verb supplied in line 1. “Rebuke” is parallel with “instruction”.

We may translate this verse, for example, “Wise children listen when their parents teach them, but children who think they know pay no attention when their parents correct their ways.”

“Wise children listen to their parents, arrogant ones can’t be corrected.”

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 .