Read Proverbs 1:7  Many times in Proverbs you will see the little word but.  But is called a conjunction.  A conjunction is a joining word.  It joins two parts of a sentence together.  But the word but is also a contrasting word.  It is joining parts that are not equal.  It may actually join opposites.   Your mom may say, “We are going to the park today, but you have to do your schoolwork first.”  Can you see the opposites that the word but is joining?  You have to do your schoolwork before you get to go to the park.  If you don’t do your schoolwork you may not be able to go to the park.  The little word but is powerful – it means a lot.  Here in our verse the word but is joining two very different parts.  The first part talks about wise children who respect the Lord.  And the second part talks about foolish children who will not respect the Lord nor listen to their teachers or parents.  And our little word but joins these two statements together.  So you see you can be one or the other of these two: you can be wise and fear the Lord, or you can be foolish and not listen to anyone.  If you are wise, you will listen to those who are over you, but if you are foolish, you will ignore everyone and go your own way.  The choice is up to you:  to be wise or foolish.  Let me use the word but one last time: you can be wise, but you can be foolish.