Proverbs 21:11

“When the scorner is punished, etc.] Either by the immediate hand of God, or by the civil magistrate; he who scoffs at Deity, blasphemes the most High, mocks at all religion, despises dominion, and speaks evil of dignities: the simple is made wise; who is weak and foolish, easily persuaded and drawn into sin, yet not hardened in it, but open to reproof and conviction; he takes notice of the punishment of scorners, and takes warning from it, and behaves more wisely and cautiously for the future; (see <201925>Proverbs 19:25); and when the wise is instructed; by others, superior to him in wisdom; by the ministers of the Gospel, by reading and hearing the word of God, and the writings of good…”

“(Compare Pro 19:25). That which the simple learn by the terrors of punishment, the wise learn by teaching.”

“The wise - The simple learn wisdom, both from the punishment of wicked men, and from the prosperity of good men. Proverbs 21:12”

“21:11 The simpleminded learn by seeing a mocker punished (see 1:22; 19:25). The wise do not need the threat of punishment because they already desire wisdom.”

“the scorner: Pro 19:25; Num 16:34; Deu 13:11, Deu 21:21; Psa 64:7-9; Act 5:5, Act 5:11-14; Co1 10:6-11; Heb 2:1-3, Heb 10:28, Heb 10:29; Rev 11:13 when the wise: Pro 1:5, Pro 9:9, Pro 15:14, Pro 18:1, Pro 18:15 Proverbs 21:12”

“11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise; And when insight is imparted to a wise man, he receives knowledge. The thought is the same as at Pro 19:25. The mocker at religion and virtue is incorrigible, punishment avails him nothing, but yet it is not lost; for as a warning example it teaches the simple, who might otherwise be easily drawn into the same frivolity. On the other hand, the wise man needs no punishment, but only strengthening and furtherance: if "instruction" is imparted to him, he embraces it, makes it his own דּעת; for, being accessible to better insight, he gains more and more knowledge. De Dieu, Bertheau, and Zckler make "the simple" the subject also in 11b:…”