A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Parallel translations
- WEB A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
- BSB A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
- NKJV A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
- NASB A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
- NLT Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.
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
A fool spurns his father's correction, but heeding reproof shows prudence. Receiving correction is a mark of wisdom.
Overview
The proverb contrasts the fool who despises parental discipline with the prudent person who accepts reproof and grows. It upholds the value of correction within the family and beyond. Such teachability mirrors the believer's posture before God's loving discipline, which yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 15:31–32The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
- Prov 13:18Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
- Prov 13:1A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
- Prov 19:20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
- 1 Chr 28:20And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
- Titus 2:15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
- 1 Chr 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
- Titus 1:13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
- 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.
- 1 Chr 22:11–13Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
- 2 Sam 15:1–6And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
- Prov 1:23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
- Prov 6:23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
- 1 Sam 2:23–25And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
- Prov 25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
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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 15:5 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.