29 Bible Verses about Reproving People

The rod and sharp words give wisdom: but a child who is not guided is a cause of shame to his mother.

For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life.

Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.

The evil you yourselves have done will be your punishment, your errors will be your judge: be certain then, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing to give up the Lord your God, and no longer to be moved by fear of me, says the Lord, the Lord of armies.

Better is open protest than love kept secret.

Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest may be in fear.

This witness is true. So say sharp words to them so that they may come to the right faith,

But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.

Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:

Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him. Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.

And if your brother does wrong to you, go, make clear to him his error between you and him in private: if he gives ear to you, you have got your brother back again.

Give attention to yourselves: if your brother does wrong, say a sharp word to him; and if he has sorrow for his sin, let him have forgiveness.

Be preaching the word at all times, in every place; make protests, say sharp words, give comfort, with long waiting and teaching;

Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send the flow of my spirit on you, and make my words clear to you.

For I am with you, says the Lord, to be your saviour: for I will put an end to all the nations where I have sent you wandering, but I will not put an end to you completely: though with wise purpose I will put right your errors, and will not let you go quite without punishment.

Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness:

And our desire is that you will keep control over those whose lives are not well ordered, giving comfort to the feeble-hearted, supporting those with little strength, and putting up with much from all.

But we make this request to you, my brothers: give attention to those who are working among you, who are over you in the Lord to keep order among you;

Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.

The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.

He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.

When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.

Let there be no hate in your heart for your brother; but you may make a protest to your neighbour, so that he may be stopped from doing evil.

A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

He who says words of protest to a man will later have more approval than one who says smooth words with his tongue.

It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.

He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name. Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him.

My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.

They have hate for him who makes protest against evil in the public place, and he whose words are upright is disgusting to them.