Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be 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.
- BSB Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is 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 despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
- Prov 15:31–32The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
- Prov 13:13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
- Prov 12:1Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
- Prov 25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
- Prov 19:6Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
- Prov 5:9–14lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;
- Prov 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
- Heb 12:25See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
- Jer 5:3–9O Yahweh, don’t your eyes look on truth? You have stricken them, but they were not grieved. You have 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.