1 A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence.
3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.
4 A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous [man] hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it].
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire [that] cometh to pass is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise [man] is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard.
16 Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be [to] him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.
21 Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous [man].
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 13
Commentary on Proverbs 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Pr 13:1-25.
1. (Compare Pr 6:1-5; 10:1, 17).
2. shall eat—that is, obtain (Pr 12:14).
transgressors—as in Pr 2:22.
violence—or, "mischief" to themselves.
3. He … mouth … life—because evil speeches may provoke violence from others.
he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction—On last clause, compare Pr 10:14.
4. (Compare Pr 12:11, 27).
5. loathsome … shame—better, causeth shame and reproach (compare Pr 19:26), by slander, &c., which the righteous hates.
6. A sentiment of frequent recurrence, that piety benefits and sin injures.
7. In opposite ways men act hypocritically for gain of honor or wealth.
8. Riches save some from punishment, while others suffer because they will not heed the rebuke of sloth, which makes and keeps them poor.
9. light … lamp—prosperity; the first, the greater, and it
rejoiceth—burns brightly, or continues, while the other, at best small, soon fails.
10. The obstinacy which attends self-conceit, produces contention, which the well-advised, thus evincing modesty, avoid.
11. by vanity—or, "nothingness," that is, which is vain or useless to the public (as card playing or similar vices).
gathereth … labour—(Compare Margin), little by little, laboriously.
12. desire cometh—is realized.
a tree of life—or, "cause of happiness."
13. the word—that is, of advice, or, instruction (compare Pr 10:27; 11:31).
14. (Compare Pr 10:11).
fountain—or, "source of life."
to depart—(compare Pr 1:2-4), or, "for departing," &c., and so gives life.
15. Right perception and action secure good will, while evil ways are difficult as a stony road. The wicked left of God find punishment of sin in sinning.
hard—or, "harsh" (compare Hebrew: De 21:4; Jer 5:15).
16. dealeth—acts with foresight.
a fool … folly—for want of caution.
17. A wicked—or, "unfaithful"
messenger falleth into mischief—or, "by mischief," or "evil," and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others.
18. (Compare Pr 10:17; 12:1).
19. Self-denial, which fools will not endure, is essential to success.
20. The benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted.
21. (Compare Pr 11:31).
good … repaid—or, "He (God) will repay good."
22. wealth … just—While good men's estates remain in their families, God so orders that the gains of sinners enure to the just (compare Pr 28:8; Ps 37:18, 22, 26, &c.).
23. The laboring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labor.
24. spareth—or, "withholds."
rod—of correction.
hateth—or, acts as if he hated him (compare Pr 3:12; 8:36).
chasteneth … betimes—or, "diligently seeks for him all useful discipline."
25. The comparative temporal prosperity of the righteous and wicked, rather than contentment and discontent, is noted.