"If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." Proverbs 9:12

Here we get a very straight forward and personal comment about applying wisdom. The message of this verse is that if you apply yourself to gaining wisdom, you will reap the benefits of your labor. However, if you choose to hear wisdom and ignore or criticize it, the person you are really hurting is yourself. While sin does have far reaching consequences beyond the sinner, the emphasis here is that a fool does not go unaffected by his decision to reject wisdom. You will end up living in the house that you build. If you take the time to use good materials and build on a good foundation, when the time comes to reap the fruits of your labor, you will reap the good fruits of wisdom. However, if when building your house you use the cheapest materials you can find, cut corners here and there, and build on a weak foundation, when the time comes for you to reap the fruits of your labor, you will reap the difficult and sad results of foolishness.