A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
A wise son (heareth) his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. A wise son shows his wisdom by hearing his father's disciplinary instruction - i:e., instruction accompanied with chastisement (Hebrew, muwcar (H4148)). Had Eli administered such discipline, and his sons heeded it, their end would have been very different (1 Samuel 2:25).