Proverbs 19:29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
‘Judgments are prepared for scorners.’ The word “judgments” here refers to divine or moral consequences. Scorners (mockers) delight in ridiculing truth and justice (19:28), and God has set judgment in readiness for them. Their punishment is not arbitrary, but the natural and just outcome of their choices (1:26; Ps. 1:4-6).
Mockery and contempt for truth carry inevitable consequences; one cannot escape God’s justice.
‘Stripes for the back of fools.’ Lashes, blows, or corrections are disciplinary measures for the foolish. Fools are those who refuse wisdom and reproof, acting against instruction (19:27). In biblical teaching, correction is meant to restore, not merely punish (10:13; 22:15).
Discipline, whether from God, parents, or life circumstances, is intended to redirect the foolish toward understanding.
Verse 28 describes the active sinfulness of the wicked, scorners who devour iniquity. Verse 29 shows the consequences of that sin: judgment and correction are prepared and unavoidable. Together, they illustrate the moral law of sowing and reaping: persistent mockery and folly lead to punishment, while heeding wisdom avoids disgrace.
Scorners and fools cannot escape justice. God’s judgment may be immediate or delayed, but it is certain. Correction (“stripes”) is a tool to teach, restrain, and restore, especially for the foolish who resist reproof.
Wisdom calls believers to: avoid mockery and contempt, receive instruction humbly and recognise that God’s justice is certain and just.
Mockery and folly carry consequences prepared by God. Judgment for the scorner and correction for the fool are both part of His wise governance, warning that sin and ignorance have inevitable outcomes.
Living the Word 