"He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it" (Prov. 9:7-12).
Here we are warned against meddling with the scorner. To correct such is vain; they willingly put on you shame. Let them alone, said the Lord to the disciples (Matt. 15:14). You may only gain a blot in reproving a wicked person. They have a deeper need_to be born again. Where no life is, hatred is the result. There is no wisdom in reproving a scorner, any more than in giving that which is holy to the dogs or in casting your pearls before the swine. The upshot may be that they will trample the misdirected word under their feet, and turn and rend you.
Correction and reproof are for those who have an ear to hear, that they walk not inconsistently with their profession. Hence we are told here to "reprove a wise man, and he will love thee." A wise man may not always pursue the path of wisdom; he may need reproof. A fool is one who never hears, though always ready to find fault. A wise man listens and weighs; when he recognizes what is of God, he will love you.
Another thing that distinguishes wisdom is the appreciation of what is good and helpful. Egotism is necessarily unwise and evil, because man is sinful and God is unknown and untrusted. It is self-satisfied and refuses to learn, having no distrust of its own dark, selfish, and sinful state. On the other hand, "Impart to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase learning." It is not the great that are wise, nor does age of itself understand judgment. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). Dependence on God is our only right attitude habitually, and this includes our hearing from one another that which approves itself to our conscience as His truth. It is well to remember that we are members of one another, and He despiseth not any, let him be ever so lowly. But He hateth the proud and will punish the scorner.
The secret of it all is plain. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding." Creature intelligence is of no value for the soul, for eternity, for relationship with God. It begins, and must begin, with fearing Him, the True and the Good, the Righteous and the Holy. There is repentance no less than faith, and therefore trembling at His Word; this is the direct opposite of judging God’s Word and trusting in self, justifying ourselves instead of God. Growth belongs to life in our present condition, and growth is by the right knowledge of God who has communicated it in His Word for this purpose. "The knowledge of the Holy" should read "the knowledge of the Holy Ones."
"For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased." The pious Jew addressed here looked for long life here below through divine favor. When divine principles have their just and unimpeded result, every word will be fulfilled, as when Christ reigns over all the earth. We Christians have a far different calling now and look for a higher glory. Nevertheless we can say and do believe that piety is profitable for everything, having promise of life, of the present one, and of that to come.
It remains true also that "if thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." God remains in changeless majesty; but in His righteous judgment, each shall bear his own burden, and reap as he sows, from the flesh corruption, and from the Spirit life everlasting.
(From "The Proverbs".)