Proverbs 3:34-35

34, 35. Surely he scorneth the scorners Stuart connects these two verses together, and renders thus: “When he mocketh the scorners and giveth grace to the humble, the wise shall inherit glory, but as to fools, shame shall sweep them away.” Conant translates Proverbs 3:34, “Though he mock at those who mock, yet he gives favour to the lowly.” Miller, “If scoffers are in question, he himself will scoff, but if the humble, he will bestow favour.” Comp. Proverbs 1:26; Psalms 18:26: Jas 4:6 ; 1 Peter 5:5. Promotion of fools Variously rendered, “Shall receive shame;” “shall take up;” “bear shame;” “shame shall elevate or ennoble fools,” (sarcastic;) “shame is the nobility conferred upon fools;” “the elevation of fools shall turn to their confusion.” Conant translates, “But fools he [God] exalts to shame.” If it did not seem like presumption we might add one more attempt:

Wise men shall inherit honour,

But promoting fools is a disgrace.

The intimation seems to be, that the disgrace, ignominy, or shame is in the promotion of them. The Geneva Bible renders, “The wise shall inherit glorie, but fooles dishonour, thogh they be exalted.” Not bad. The sentiment of the verse is, To the wise properly belong exalted positions, but it is a disgrace to promote fools to office. Such disgrace the people of this Republic, as well as of other nations, sometimes suffer.