Proverbs13
New International Version
1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
2From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
4A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.
6Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
15Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.
16All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
21Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
24Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
25The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
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.