Proverbs 13:1-2 (ESV)
1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
The Proverbs again exhort the wise son to listen to the instruction of his parents. Unlike the mocker or scoffer, who doesn’t receive correction when he sins, the wise son embraces the path of obedience. The unwise person has no desire to profit from sound advice. But the son (or daughter) who ingests the teaching of his parents is like a man who eats what is good, experiencing blessing. The unfaithful person, who cannot be trusted, thirsts for violence. He doesn’t use words to help others but to inflict harm. How odd to consider that there have always been people who honestly desire to bring pain to others using cruel, mean, and even hateful words. Watch out for the woman who perverts vehicles like prayer requests and accountability to demolish the reputation of others. God is not pleased when we use speech to hurt other souls.