Listen or Mock
25
If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;
if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
26
Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother
are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.
27
If you stop listening to instruction, my child,
you will turn your back on knowledge.
Verse 25
The man who insults other people might not learn from his punishment. In English, we say that this man has a ‘closed mind’. This means that he refuses to learn from anyone else. But other people can learn when they see this man’s punishment.
Simple people do wrong things, because they have not learned to be wise. Simple people will learn when the evil man receives his punishment. They will see the punishment. So they will realize that the man is evil. They will learn that the man’s actions were wrong. So they themselves will begin to learn wisdom. In English, we say that simple people have an ‘empty mind’. This means that they have learned little yet. But they might learn if they get a shock.
If a wise man does something wrong, then you should correct him. Because he is wise, he will learn from the correction. He will become even wiser. In English, we say that such a man has an ‘open mind’. That is, he wants to learn, even if the truth is painful.
This proverb points out that a scoffer (a rebel or fool) and a simple person (someone with little wisdom) are not the same. If you punish a scoffer, they might just become more defiant. But someone open to learning might understand and stop resisting God’s wisdom.
Verse 26
This son does not just do one evil thing. He does many evil things. His parents cannot control him. They must avoid him. They can only pray to God for their son. The son will suffer for his own evil actions.
This verse describes a child who causes trouble by stealing from one parent and pushing the other away, bringing shame and disgrace.
Verse 27
This is the only verse in Proverbs 10:1 to Proverbs 22:16 where Solomon speaks to his own son. These chapters form a very long lesson. Perhaps Solomon’s son is tired. Perhaps the son wants to do something else. But he must not walk away. He needs to listen to this lesson. He needs to learn this knowledge. He must be patient and learn more.
This verse warns that if you stop listening to wise guidance, you will stray from God's ways and not understand His laws.
Let me ask you: Do you need to be whipped to gain wisdom and understanding?
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