The Meaning of Proverbs 9:12 Explained

Proverbs 9:12

KJV: If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

YLT: If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned -- thyself bearest it.

Darby: If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

ASV: If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thou be wise,  thou shalt be wise  for thyself: but [if] thou scornest,  thou alone shalt bear  [it]. 

What does Proverbs 9:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 9:1-18 - Two Contrasted Invitations
There is an age-long competition between Wisdom and Folly, Virtue and Vice. The palace of Wisdom is very attractive-well built and well furnished. It is reared upon seven well-hewn marble pillars, in a quadrangular form, the entrance being left wide-open. An eternal mansion, it is stable and beautiful. Great preparations are made for the feast, which is open to all-in striking contrast to the private supper to which Vice allures the unwary youth. The beautiful owner also sends forth her maidens into the public thoroughfares to give free invitations to all who will accept them. See Matthew 22:1, etc.
Only to the simple or child-hearted, and not to the scorner, is the invitation addressed. Wisdom lets the scorner pass, because a word to him would only recoil on herself, and would add to his wickedness. To scoff at things which are holy and scorn the divine power is to risk the sin that is never forgiven. Such is the man who enters the feast without the wedding garment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 9

1  The discipline
4  and the doctrine of wisdom
13  The custom
16  and error of folly

What do the individual words in Proverbs 9:12 mean?

If you are wise you are wise for yourself and [if] you scoff you alone will bear [it]
אִם־ חָ֭כַמְתָּ חָכַ֣מְתָּ לָּ֑ךְ וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ לְֽבַדְּךָ֥ תִשָּֽׂא

חָ֭כַמְתָּ  you  are  wise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָכַם  
Sense: to be wise.
חָכַ֣מְתָּ  you  are  wise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָכַם  
Sense: to be wise.
לָּ֑ךְ  for  yourself 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ  and  [if]  you  scoff 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
לְֽבַדְּךָ֥  you  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
תִשָּֽׂא  will  bear  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.