Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
Parallel translations
- WEB Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
- KJV Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
- NKJV Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.
- NASB Poverty and shame will come to one who neglects discipline, But one who complies with rebuke will be honored.
- NLT If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Refusing discipline leads to poverty and shame, but heeding correction brings honor. A teachable spirit is the path to a good life.
Overview
This proverb contrasts the one who rejects instruction with the one who accepts reproof, attaching disgrace to the former and honor to the latter. It commends humility before correction as essential to wisdom and well-being. The gospel deepens this, for God lovingly disciplines His children for their good (Hebrews 12:6,11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 15:5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
- Prov 15:31–32He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
- Prov 13:13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
- Prov 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- Prov 25:12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
- Prov 19:6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
- Prov 5:9–14lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
- Prov 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
- Heb 12:25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
- Jer 5:3–9O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 13:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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