Poor Hearing

(Proverbs 13:8 KJV)  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Does this mean that poverty is a result of a lack of correction?  There are numerous behaviors and attitudes in Proverbs that lead to poverty.  Here there is the suggestion that those who are poor do not listen.  They do not pay attention when someone is trying to straighten them out.

Or is this talking about the environment of the poor.  Do poor people lack those around them with the ability to give guidance?  Would they listen if they could?

A lot of questions.  Either way, not hearing words of correction can keep you from gathering wealth and the benefits that come with it.

So?  We can work on listening.  We can seek out those who are worth listening to.  One can be done where we are, the other requires some changes.