Proverbs 13

A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,

but a scorner does not listen to rebuke.

2 A man will enjoy good by the fruit of his mouth,

but the soul of transgressors feeds on violence.

3 He who keeps his mouth keeps his life,

but he who opens wide his lips will come to ruin.

4 The soul of the lazy man desires but has nothing,

but the soul of the diligent will prosper.

5 A righteous man hates lying,

but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

6 Righteousness keeps him who is upright in the way,

but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is one who pretends to be rich,

yet who has nothing;

there is one who pretends to be poor,

yet who has great riches.

13:7 Either sort of pretense, indeed all deception whatever the kind, is wrong and foolish.⚜

8 A man’s riches may be the ransom for his life,

but the poor hears no threat.

13:8 If the rich get into troubles and dangers, sometimes they can save themselves by paying money.⚜

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 Only by pride comes strife,

but with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by dishonesty will dwindle away,

but he who gathers by labour will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but the desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,

but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

turning people aside from the snares of death.

13:14 Prov 10:11; 14:27. Such teaching will guide others to God Himself the Giver of eternal life, and will produce the fear of the Lord.⚜

15 Good understanding gains favour,

but the way of the transgressor is hard.

13:15 The last sentence of this verse may also be translated “but the unfaithful does not endure”. See note on the Hebrew language at Ps 14:6.⚜

16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge,

but a fool exposes his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful ambassador brings health.

18 Poverty and shame will be to him who refuses instruction,

but he who has regard for correction will be honoured.

19 The desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but departing from evil is an abomination to fools.

13:19 Evil is all that fools know or desire. It is their life. Leaving it is the hardest thing they can imagine. Notes on fools at Prov 1:7; Ps 14:1.⚜

20 He who walks with wise men will become wise,

but a companion of fools will be destroyed.

13:20 How careful, then, we should be in the choice of friends (Prov 1:10; 2:12, 20; 12:26; 16:29; 22:24-25; 1 Cor 15:33).⚜

21 Trouble pursues sinners,

but good will be the reward of the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just.

23 Abundant food is in the plowed land of the poor,

but lack of justice sweeps it away.

24 He who does not use his rod hates his son,

but he who loves him disciplines him carefully.

13:24 Without discipline and correction children often grow up to be spoiled, foolish, self-centered, and ignorant of God’s ways of dealing with men. Withholding discipline is the same as hating one’s children and wanting them to turn out badly. Those who neglect giving discipline to their children love themselves, not their children. Real love always gives discipline – Prov 3:11-12; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17; Heb 12:6.⚜

25 The righteous eats to his heart’s satisfaction,

but the stomach of the wicked will be in want.