Proverbs 1:25-26
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This isn't just about ignoring advice; it's about actively rejecting it, treating counsel as worthless and reproof as an unwelcome burden. It reveals a stubborn refusal, not just a simple oversight, to even consider wisdom’s words as valid or helpful.
because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Wisdom has been calling out in the public square, offering guidance and warnings, but the people have consistently ignored her. This verse describes their stubborn refusal to listen to any advice or accept any correction, effectively dismissing all of Wisdom's efforts to steer them away from destruction. They are not just passively ignoring; they are actively rejecting every bit of counsel and reproof offered.
We often think of ignoring something as simply not paying attention. But what if the Bible describes a more active rejection of wisdom's voice?
The verse uses strong language to describe the response to Wisdom's call. It's not just a passive lack of attention; it's an active dismissal.
Setting Aside Counsel
"Set at nought" means to reject as worthless, to consider something of no value. When Wisdom offers counsel – advice for living well and avoiding harm – this response treats it as trash, something to be discarded.
Refusing Reproof
"Would none of my reproof" goes a step further. It means not being willing, not inclining towards it. It’s a willful refusal to accept correction or guidance when Wisdom points out wrong paths.
Wisdom doesn't just tell us what to do; she also tells us what not to do. How does this verse highlight both aspects?
Proverbs 1:25 distinguishes between two key ways Wisdom communicates: through counsel and through reproof. Understanding the difference shows the completeness of her message.
Counsel: Guidance for Good
Wisdom's counsel is advice about how to live, recommendations for making good choices, and understanding how to navigate life successfully. It's proactive guidance.
Reproof: Correction from Wrong
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Reproof, on the other hand, is correction. It’s the pointing out of wrong actions, dangerous paths, and the consequences of sin. It’s reactive guidance, stopping us before we go too far.
Total Rejection
The people described here rejected both. They wouldn't accept advice on how to live well, and they refused correction when they were already on a bad path. This leaves them vulnerable and without direction.
Understand the original words
‘ētsāh · Hebrew Noun
Divine advice, guidance, or the sovereign will of God for human conduct. It encompasses the moral and spiritual direction provided by God to guide individuals away from ruin and toward life.
ʾêd · Hebrew Noun
A state of deep distress, misfortune, or ruin; it often refers to a sudden and severe disaster or state of being undone.
śāḥaq · Hebrew Verb
A state of being mocked or held in derision. It signifies the removal of protection and the revealing of the foolishness of those who rejected divine wisdom.
lāʿaḡ · Hebrew Verb
To mimic or deride; it conveys an attitude of intense disapproval and the exposing of someone's folly. In this context, it highlights the finality and inevitability of judgment upon the stubborn.
paḥad · Hebrew Noun
A state of sudden, overwhelming dread or alarm. Biblically, it is often associated with the presence of divine judgment or the consequence of defying God’s order.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment of Proverbs 1, highlighting that a stern rebuke for someone who abandons the way of life will lead to an even greater downfall than straying from the path initially.
Hebrews 12:25This New Testament passage serves as a powerful warning, urging listeners not to refuse the one who is speaking from heaven, mirroring the rejection of counsel and reproof described in Proverbs.
Jeremiah 7:26Here, the prophet laments that God's people have refused to listen or pay attention, instead hardening their necks and refusing instruction, which is a direct parallel to rejecting wisdom's counsel.
Matthew 23:37Jesus' lament over Jerusalem powerfully illustrates this theme, showing how the city repeatedly rejected God's messengers and wisdom, ultimately leading to devastating consequences.
jfbProverbs 1:25: "But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:"
- set at naught—rejected as of no value.would none of—literally, "were not willing or inclined to it."
henryProverbs 1:20-33: "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:"
1:20-33 Solomon, having showed how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here declares how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God. Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms. Three sorts of persons are here called by Him: 1. Simple ones. Sinners are fond of their simple notions of good and evil, their simple prejudices against the ways of God, and flatter themselves in their wickedness. 2.…
This isn't just about ignoring advice; it's about actively rejecting it, treating counsel as worthless and reproof as an unwelcome burden. It reveals a stubborn refusal, not just a simple oversight, to even consider wisdom’s words as valid or helpful.
Wisdom has been calling out in the public square, offering guidance and warnings, but the people have consistently ignored her. This verse describes their stubborn refusal to listen to any advice or accept any correction, effectively dismissing all of Wisdom's efforts to steer them away from destruction. They are not just passively ignoring; they are actively rejecting every bit of counsel and reproof offered.
Wisdom has been calling out in the public square, offering guidance and warnings, but the people have consistently ignored her. This verse describes their stubborn refusal to listen to any advice or accept any correction, effectively dismissing all of Wisdom's efforts to steer them away from destruction. They are not just passively ignoring; they are actively rejecting every bit of counsel and reproof offered.
"because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you," — This isn't just about ignoring advice; it's about actively rejecting it, treating counsel as worthless and reproof as an unwelcome burden. It reveals a stubborn refusal, not just a simple oversight…
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Last reviewed October 2026
