13:13 The one who despises instruction 1 will pay the penalty, 2
but whoever esteems instruction 3 will 4 be rewarded. 5
15:32 The one who refuses correction despises himself, 6
but whoever hears 7 reproof acquires understanding. 8
1 tn Heb “the word.” The term “word” means teaching in general; its parallel “command” indicates that it is the more forceful instruction that is meant. Both of these terms are used for scripture.
2 tc The MT reads יֵחָבֶל (yekhavel, “he will pay [for it]”; cf. NAB, NIV) but the BHS editors suggest revocalizing the text to יְחֻבָּל (yÿkhubal, “he will be broken [for it]”; cf. NRSV “bring destruction on themselves”).
3 tn Heb “fears a commandment”; NIV “respects a command.”
4 tn Heb “he” or “that one” [will be rewarded].
5 tc The LXX adds: “A crafty son will have no good thing, but the affairs of a wise servant will be prosperous; and his path will be directed rightly.”
6 sn To “despise oneself” means to reject oneself as if there was little value. The one who ignores discipline is not interested in improving himself.
7 tn Or “heeds” (so NAB, NIV); NASB “listens to.”
8 tn The Hebrew text reads קוֹנֶה לֵּב (qoneh lev), the participle of קָנָה (qanah, “to acquire; to possess”) with its object, “heart.” The word “heart” is frequently a metonymy of subject, meaning all the capacities of the human spirit and/or mind. Here it refers to the ability to make judgments or discernment.