Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible




Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers


A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfBridlesBackBeatingsWhipsWhippingBinding As Animals

Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall remove the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear of it and be afraid. Verse Conceptsevil, warnings againstBanishmentPunishment, Legal Aspects OfSelf WillChildren, UngratefulFear Is DueInstructions About Stoning



When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfMockeryScornersAcquiring KnowledgeJudicial PunishmentMan's Wisdommockers

But if you will not hearken to Me and will not do all these commandments, And if you spurn and despise My statutes, and if your soul despises and rejects My ordinances, so that you will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant, I will do this: I will appoint over you [sudden] terror (trembling, trouble), even consumption and fever that consume and waste the eyes and make the [physical] life pine away. You shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. read more.
I [the Lord] will set My face against you and you shall be defeated and slain before your enemies; they who hate you shall rule over you; you shall flee when no one pursues you. And if in spite of all this you still will not listen and be obedient to Me, then I will chastise and discipline you seven times more for your sins. And I will break and humble your pride in your power, and I will make your heavens as iron [yielding no answer, no blessing, no rain] and your earth [as sterile] as brass. And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. If you walk contrary to Me and will not heed Me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you, according to your sins. I will loose the wild beasts of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few so that your roads shall be deserted and desolate. If by these means you are not turned to Me but determine to walk contrary to Me, I also will walk contrary to you, and I will smite you seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you that shall execute the vengeance [for the breaking] of My covenant; and you shall be gathered together within your cities, and I will send the pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hands of the enemy. When I break your staff of bread and cut off your supply of food, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall ration your bread and deliver it again by weight; and you shall eat, and not be satisfied. And if in spite of all this you will not listen and give heed to Me but walk contrary to Me, Then I will walk contrary to you in wrath, and I also will chastise you seven times for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons and of your daughters. And I will destroy your high places [devoted to idolatrous worship], and cut down your sun-images, and throw your dead bodies upon the [wrecked] bodies of your idols, and My soul shall abhor you [with deep and unutterable loathing]. I will lay your cities waste, bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet and soothing odors [of offerings made by fire]. And I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. I will scatter you among the nations and draw out [your enemies'] sword after you; and your land shall be desolate and your cities a waste. Then shall the land [of Israel have the opportunity to] enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land; then shall the land rest, to enjoy and receive payments for its sabbaths [divinely ordained for it]. As long as it lies desolate and waste, it shall have rest, the rest it did not have in your sabbaths when you dwelt upon it. As for those who are left of you, I will send dejection (lack of courage, a faintness) into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a driven leaf shall put them to hasty and tumultuous flight, and they shall flee as if from the sword, and fall when no one pursues them. They shall stumble over one another as if to escape a sword when no one pursues them; and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. You shall perish among the nations; the land of your enemies shall eat you up. And those of you who are left shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away like them.


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers

You shall have no other gods before or besides Me. You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,

And you shall stone him to death with stones, because he has tried to draw you away from the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. And all Israel shall hear and [reverently] fear, and shall never again do any such wickedness as this among you.

Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act presumptuously again. Verse ConceptsFear Is Due

Those who remain will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. Verse ConceptsFear Is Due


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers


When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfMockeryScornersAcquiring KnowledgeJudicial PunishmentMan's Wisdommockers


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers


The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears,
But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfShrewdnessPrudenceThinkingScience



“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning?
How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing,
How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?
Verse ConceptsFools, Characteristics OfPleasureRejection Of Spiritual InstructionFools, Description OfInfidelity To GodFools Becoming WiseBefore People ActHating GoodLoving EvilSimplicitymockers


The Lord protects the simple (childlike);
I was brought low [humbled and discouraged], and He saved me.
Verse ConceptsHelpfulnessPoverty, SpiritualGod's Attitude To FoolsProtection From Danger


A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it],
But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
Verse ConceptsDanger, PhysicalFolly, Effects OfWisdom, Human ImportanceFrugalityPrudenceForethoughtsHiding From Peopleproblemsshelterriskconsequences


A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it,
But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
Verse ConceptsBeing In DebtWisdom, Human ImportanceHiding From Peopleconsequences


When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfMockeryScornersAcquiring KnowledgeJudicial PunishmentMan's Wisdommockers


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers

It is time for the Lord to act; they have frustrated Your law. Therefore I love Your commandments more than [resplendent] gold, yes, more than [perfectly] refined gold. Therefore I esteem as right all, yes, all Your precepts; I hate every false way. read more.
Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.


When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfMockeryScornersAcquiring KnowledgeJudicial PunishmentMan's Wisdommockers


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers


He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control],
But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].
Verse ConceptsAngerAggressionControlling AngerAnger ManagementAnger, Characteristic Of FoolsQuick TemperedSlow To AngerLoving Your EnemiesEtiquetteBeing PatientAnger And Forgivenesspatientimpulsiveness


He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself,
But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].
Verse ConceptsReproofPaying Attention To PeopleReproving Peopletraining


The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom;
A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord;
His praise endures forever.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfPraiseEducation, Elements OfBeginningIntelligenceKnowledge Of Good And EvilReverence, And BlessingUnderstandingWisdom, Human NatureFear Of The LordReverence To GodBeginning Of WisdomEternal PraiseGod Giving UnderstandingPraise To God Is FittingGod Gives WisdomThe Fear Of The LordFearing God


Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent;
Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.
Verse ConceptsFolly, Effects OfFloggingMockeryRebukeScornersAdvice On Beating PeopleReproving Peoplemockers

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, read more.
If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.


Evil men do not understand justice,
But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.
Verse ConceptsJusticeSeeking GodGod Giving UnderstandingNot Understanding Other Things


Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
Verse ConceptsSilenceFoolishnessHow Silence Is WiseFools

Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand. Verse ConceptsdrossLast DaysRestored In Jesus ChristPerfection, HumanRefiningWisdom, Human NatureProper UnderstandingContinuing In Sin

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. All [the whole universe] are Your servants; therefore they continue this day according to Your ordinances. read more.
Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, [how can I?] for it is by them You have quickened me (granted me life). I am Yours, therefore save me [Your own]; for I have sought (inquired of and for) Your precepts and required them [as my urgent need]. The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me. I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].