Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Parallel translations
- WEB Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
- BSB Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
- 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 despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
- Prov 15:31–32The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
- Prov 13:13Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
- Prov 12:1Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
- Prov 25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
- Prov 19:6Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
- Prov 5:9–14Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
- Prov 9:9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
- Heb 12:25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
- Jer 5:3–9O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
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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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