What does “a wise son heareth his father's instruction” teach?

This line shows that real wisdom starts with a willing heart that listens to guidance. A wise child accepts a father’s teaching because he trusts that loving correction keeps him from harm and leads to a good path. The second half, about the scorner who will not hear rebuke, warns that a proud person who mocks advice is heading for trouble. Together they call us to stop resisting correction, especially from those who care for us, and to see loving instruction as a gift, not a burden.

How does this passage describe the power of our words?

These sayings explain that our mouths can bring either good or harm. One verse says a person “shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth,” meaning wise and kind speech often leads to good results and even blessing from God. Another warns that keeping, or guarding, the mouth protects life, while opening wide the lips brings destruction. Careless, angry, or deceitful words can stir conflict, damage reputation, and invite judgment. So the passage urges careful, truthful, and helpful speech flowing from a right heart.

What is the contrast between the sluggard and the diligent?

The sluggard is someone who wants things but refuses to work. This person “desireth, and hath nothing” because they only dream and never act. In contrast, the diligent person works steadily and is “made fat,” a picture of being well supplied and satisfied. The lesson is simple and searching: laziness leads to empty hands and an empty life, while steady effort brings provision. This applies both to daily work and to spiritual life, where lazy desire without effort leaves the soul dry and thin.

What does it mean that righteousness keeps the upright in the way?

This line says that a person who lives in line with what is right is actually guarded by that way of life. Obedience to God’s ways protects from many traps and sorrows. The opposite line, “wickedness overthroweth the sinner,” shows that sin itself becomes a person’s ruin. Wrong choices, lies, and violence may seem to help for a moment, but in the end they bring a fall. So the passage teaches that the safest “fence” for our lives is to walk uprightly, not to see how close we can get to evil.

Why does it say wealth can be gained wrongly or wisely?

One saying points out that riches gained by vanity, or empty and dishonest ways, will shrink. Ill-gotten money does not last and brings trouble. Another line praises the one who gathers by labour, whose wealth grows slowly and honestly. There is also a verse about someone who pretends to be rich yet has nothing, and another who looks poor yet has great riches. Together these teach that appearance can mislead, dishonest gain is unstable, and steady, honest work and contentment are the better path.

What does “hope deferred maketh the heart sick” mean?

This saying speaks to the pain we feel when something we deeply long for is delayed again and again. When a good hope is put off, the heart feels sick, weighed down, and discouraged. But when that right desire finally comes, it is called “a tree of life,” meaning it brings refreshment, joy, and renewed strength. The verse is honest about how delay hurts, yet also points to the deep sweetness when God at last answers a long wait with real fulfillment, not just a passing pleasure.

What does this passage say about accepting or despising God’s word?

One verse warns that whoever despises “the word” will be destroyed. To despise it is to treat God’s instruction as nothing, to ignore warnings and refuse to be corrected. That path leads to ruin. The second part promises that the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded. To fear here means to respect, take seriously, and obey what God says. This brings protection and blessing. The passage shows that our response to God’s spoken will is not a small thing, but a matter of life and loss.

How does walking with wise people affect a person?

The saying “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise” teaches that close company shapes character. Time spent with those who fear God, think carefully, and live uprightly will rub off and help a person grow in the same direction. The second part warns that a companion of fools will be destroyed. Joining yourself to people who mock wisdom and love evil means sharing not only their sins but also their punishment. The passage urges careful choice of friends and close partners in daily life.

Why does it say spare the rod hate the son?

This verse speaks about loving discipline. To “spare the rod” here means a parent refuses to correct a child when they go wrong. The saying is blunt: that is a form of hatred, because it leaves the child on a harmful path. Real love “chasteneth him betimes,” meaning a loving parent corrects early and faithfully, while there is hope. The goal is not harshness but rescue, shaping the child’s heart toward what is right so they can avoid deeper sin and its bitter results later in life.

What does this passage teach about the daily life of the righteous and the wicked?

These sayings paint two very different paths. The righteous person hates lying, guards the tongue, works hard, listens to correction, fears God’s commands, walks with wise friends, and even plans good for future generations. Their light grows, and they are repaid with good. The wicked love lies, talk carelessly, are lazy or harsh, refuse rebuke, chase empty gain, and join fools. Their lamp goes out, evil hunts them, and their wealth is finally given to others. The message is simple: choices have real outcomes before God.

Prov.13.1

Proverbs 13:1

King James Version (KJV)

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Chapter:

A Father’s Discipline

1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Context:

A Father’s Discipline

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.