Proverbs — Chapter 13
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1A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
18Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
1A wise son [heareth] his father`s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
2A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous [shall eat] violence.
3He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; [But] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8The ransom of a man`s life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
9The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
15Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
16Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
17A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
18Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children`s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.
1A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer has never listened to rebuke.
2From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the treacherous desire the fruit of violence.
3The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin.
4The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.
5The righteous person will reject anything false, but the wicked person will act in shameful disgrace.
6Righteousness guards the one who lives with integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth.
8The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, thus the poor person has never heard a threat.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
11Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life.
13The one who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but whoever esteems direction will be rewarded.
14Instruction from the wise is like a life-giving fountain, to turn a person from deadly snares.
15Keen insight wins favor, but the conduct of the treacherous ends in destruction.
16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
17An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame, but the one who accepts reproof is honored.
19A desire fulfilled will be sweet to the soul, but fools abhor turning away from evil.
20The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21Calamity pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23Abundant food may come from the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice.
24The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.
25The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked will be empty.
1A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.
3He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
5A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
6Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.
11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.
15Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
18Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
19Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.
24One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
Summary
Proverbs on the fruit of speech, discipline, and wealth — the wise son heeds instruction, hope deferred makes the heart sick, wealth gained hastily dwindles, and the companion of fools suffers harm.
Authorship & Background
- Speech and Its Consequences (vv.1-3, 5)
- Desire, Diligence, and Fulfillment (vv.4, 11-12, 19)
- The Influence of Companions (v.20)
- Wealth and Inheritance (vv.7-8, 11, 22)
- Discipline and Parenting (v.24)
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes v.10's sweeping claim: "ONLY by pride cometh contention." He suggests applying this as a diagnostic: in every argument, ask "where is the pride?" On v.12, he notes that this proverb validates emotional pain — God acknowledges that waiting causes genuine heartsickness. On v.20, Guzik states that this is perhaps the most practically actionable proverb: choose your friends wisely, because you will become like them.
- Charles Spurgeon: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise. Show me your companions and I will show you your future. You may protest that your friends do not influence you — but they do. Slowly, imperceptibly, certainly. As water shapes the stone it flows over, so companionship shapes the soul. Choose your companions as you would choose your destiny — for they are one and the same."
Reflection
- 1. Every fight traces back to pride (v.10). Next time you're in conflict, ask: where is MY pride in this? Not just theirs — mine. If you can find and kill the pride, the contention dissolves. Humility is the universal conflict-resolver.
- 2. Choose your companions deliberately (v.20). You will become like the people you spend the most time with. This is inevitable. Are your closest friends making you wiser or more foolish? If the answer is uncomfortable, changes are needed — not eventually, but now.
- 3. Acknowledge the pain of waiting (v.12). If your hope has been deferred and your heart is sick, God sees it. He validated that pain in this proverb. But hold on — "when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." Fulfillment is coming. Don't abandon hope in the waiting.
- 4. Build generational wealth (v.22). "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children." Think two generations ahead. What are you building that will outlast you? This applies to finances, faith, wisdom, and character. Live for your grandchildren, not just yourself.
- 5. Discipline is love (v.24). If you withhold correction from those in your care — children, mentees, employees — you are not being kind. You are being hateful. Love confronts, corrects, and trains. Do it early ("betimes") before small problems become catastrophic patterns.