Proverbs 21:11

When a man full of pestilence is punished, a little man of wit shall be wiser (or even someone of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall be made the wiser); and if he followeth a wise man, he shall take knowing.

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

In Context

10The soul of an unpious man desireth evil; he shall not have mercy on his neighbour. (The soul of a wicked person desireth evil; he shall not even give mercy to his friend.)

12A just man of the house of a wicked man thinketh, to withdraw wicked men from evil. (The righteous think about the wicked in their houses, but it is God who shall throw down the wicked for their evil./The just God thinketh about the house of the wicked, and he shall throw down the wicked for their evil.)

Read all of Proverbs 21

Cross References

Numbers 16:34And soothly all Israel that stood about, fled from the cry of men perishing, and said, Lest peradventure the earth swallow also us. (And all the Israelites who stood about, fled from the cry of the people as they perished, saying, Lest the earth swallow us as well.)

Deuteronomy 21:21The people of the city shall oppress him with stones, and he shall die, (so) that ye do away evil from the midst of you, and that all Israel hear (of) it, and dread.

Proverbs 1:5A wise man hearing shall be the wiser; and a man (of) understanding shall hold governance. (A wise person listening shall become wiser; and a person understanding shall gain skills, or abilities.)

Proverbs 15:14The heart of a wise man seeketh teaching; and the mouth of fools is fed with unknowing, ( or with ignorance).

Proverbs 18:15The heart of a prudent man shall hold steadfastly knowing; and the ear of wise men seeketh teaching. (The heart of a person with understanding shall steadfastly hold onto knowledge; and the ears of the wise seek out teaching, or instruction.)

Acts 5:5Ananias heard these words, and felled down, and was dead [or and died]. And great dread was made on all that heard (about this), (or And great and fearful reverence came upon all who heard about this).

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 21:11

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. See here the character of a very wicked man. 1. The strong inclination he has to do mischief. His very soul desires evil, desires that evil may be done and that he may have the pleasure, not only of seeing it, but of having a hand in it. The root of wickedness lies in the soul; the desire that men have to do evil, that is the lust which conceives and brings forth sin. 2. The strong aversion he has to do good: His neighbour, his… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 21:11