Proverbs13
American Standard Version · Public Domain
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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 13.
v1
There is great hope of those that reverence their parents. There is little hope of any who will not hear those that deal faithfully with them.
v2
By our words we must be justified or condemned, Mt 12:37.
v3
He that thinks before he speaks, that suppresses evil if he have thought it, keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief. Many a one is ruined by an ungoverned tongue.
Key Words
חָכָם: wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
מוּסָר: properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint
לוּץ: properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
גְּעָרָה: a chiding
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
פְּרִי: fruit (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Proverbs 13JFB explicitly correlates 'opening wide the lips' with destruction, linking directly to Proverbs 10:14.
Supported by JFB
JFB links eating good from the mouth with the parallel principle in Proverbs 12:14.
Supported by JFB
By our words we must be justified or condemned; directly echoing guarding one's mouth.
Supported by Matthew Henry
JFB links refusing instruction to the same moral warning given in Proverbs 10:17.
Supported by JFB
The specific providence where the wealth of sinners ultimately transfers to the hands of the just.
Supported by JFB
The divine pattern of loving discipline in parenting, connecting loving correction with parental responsibility.
Supported by JFB
JFB correlates the contrasting behavior of wise and foolish/scorning sons to Proverbs 10:1.
Supported by JFB
Verbal echo of the 'lamp of the wicked' being 'put out' (extinguished).
Parallels 'fountain of life' and 'departing from the snares of death' almost word-for-word.
JFB connects the refusal of instruction with the self-inflicted spiritual poverty of Proverbs 12:1.
Supported by JFB
The sinner gathers and heaps up, only to give to him who is good before God.
Contrasts the fool despising his father's instruction with the prudent son regarding reproof.
Identical theological theme: keeping mouth and tongue guards the soul from troubles.
Parallels the desire of the sluggard versus the material and spiritual fatness of the diligent.
Contrasts the incremental, honest accumulation of wealth with sudden vanity and destruction.