Good teaching comes from good learning—and Proverbs has more to say to students than to teachers. Proverbs is concerned with the learning of wisdom. The book makes it clear that there are no good alternatives to learning wisdom. We are either becoming wise learners or refusing to learn and becoming foolish failures. Proverbs encourages us to make the right choice.
Wise Learners: Gladly accept instruction
Foolish Failures: Ignore instruction
Wise Learners: Love discipline
Foolish Failures: Hate correction
Wise Learners: Listen to advice
Foolish Failures: Think they need no advice
Wise Learners: Accept parents’ discipline
Foolish Failures: Mock parents
Wise Learners: Are on the pathway to life
Foolish Failures: Will go astray
Wise Learners: Will be honored
Foolish Failures: End in proverty and disgrace
Wise Learners: Profit from constructive criticism
Foolish Failures: Harm themselves by refusing criticism
Advice to Teachers: Help people avoid traps (13:14), use pleasant words (16:21), and speak wise words at the right time (15:23; 18:20).