Your words matter.  How you respond to other words matters.

1) Listening to rebuke and correction

This chapter has a lot to say about the wise listen to rebuke and correction and make changes, but the fools mock such correction.  That’s a hard one.

“A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke” (Prov 13:1).

“The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded” (Prov 13:13).

“A wise man’s instruction is a fountain of life” (Prov 13:14).

2) Words Matter

The proverbs talk a lot about our words.  Fools don’t think about their words but speak freely.  The wise speak with restraint and care.

“From the words of his mouth, a man will enjoy good things” (Prov 13:2).

3) Hope fulfilled goes deep to the soul

“Delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life” (Prov 12:12).