Proverbs 12:28-13:1 “In the path of righteousness there is life, but another path leads to death. A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer has never listened to rebuke.”

Once again we can see an earthly as well as a spiritual application here. Do good, stay out of trouble, and you have a better life! Do bad, get in trouble, and serious enough trouble leads to death. But the “path of righteousness” should remind us of Jesus, who died on the cross so that He could be our righteousness and we could have spiritual life through Him!

Romans 3:20-24 “For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed—namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

A wise child will understand the practical and spiritual warnings that come from physical or spiritual parents, and pay attention. A foolish child refuses to listen and makes fun of godly wisdom.