What are the consequences of ignoring wisdom according to Proverbs 19:27?

The Plain Statement of Proverbs 19:27

“If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

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Immediate Consequence: Drifting Off Course

- Stopping the habit of heeding godly counsel leads to spiritual drift, not neutrality.

- “Stray” implies a gradual yet certain wandering—like a boat whose anchor has slipped.

- Loss of “knowledge” means losing clarity on God’s will, morals, and priorities.

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Broader Ripple Effects Illustrated in Proverbs

- Dullness of heart (Proverbs 1:7; 18:2)

• Reverence for the Lord evaporates; self becomes the standard.

- Vulnerability to deception (Proverbs 14:12)

• “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

- Companionship with fools (Proverbs 13:20)

• Walking with the wise no longer appeals; foolish company feels comfortable.

- Ruined plans and poverty of soul (Proverbs 15:22; 21:5)

• Counsel once prevented costly missteps; now those safeguards are gone.

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Tracing the Pattern Through the Rest of Scripture

- Hosea 4:6 — “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

- Hebrews 2:1 — “We must pay closer attention… so that we do not drift away.”

- James 1:22 — Hearing without doing deceives the listener, producing barren faith.

Each passage reinforces that neglecting instruction is not passive; it breeds destruction.

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Practical Takeaways for Daily Life

• Keep your ear trained on Scripture daily; it sharpens discernment.

• Invite mature believers to speak correction—pre-commit to listen.

• Act on truth immediately; obedience cements wisdom.

• Revisit areas where you once resisted counsel; repentance re-anchors the soul.

Ignoring wisdom severs the tether that keeps a life aligned with God’s truth; listening preserves the course and lands a person safely in God-given knowledge.