Summary
The chapter begins by highlighting the benefits of a wise son who listens to his father versus a scorner who rejects rebuke. It continues with observations on how a man’s good conduct yields good fruit while transgressors suffer violence, and how careful speech preserves life whereas careless words lead to destruction. The contrast between the diligent and the sluggard shows that hard work brings abundance while idleness leaves one empty. Righteousness is portrayed as the guard against wickedness, with the wicked brought low and the righteous rewarded. The chapter concludes with admonitions on discipline, the value of instruction, and the lasting impact of one’s choices on future generations.