Proverbs 29:19
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.
- KJV
- A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
- WEB
- A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.
- ASV
- A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not give heed.
- DARBY
- A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer.
- BLB
- With words a servant will not be disciplined; for he understands, yet he will not respond.
- ÅB
- Ved ord lar en slave seg ikke tukte; for han skjønner dem nok, men adlyder dem ikke.
- OTB
- En tjener kan ikke rettes med ord alene; for selv om de forstår, vil de ikke svare.
- B1930
- Ved ord lar en træl sig ikke tukte; for han skjønner dem nok, men adlyder dem ikke.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 19:16
I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.
Read in contextProverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Read in contextProverbs 30:22
a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
Read in context