Proverbs 13:1-25
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 transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.a
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lampb of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labourc shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.d
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithfule 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 fools to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.f
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed 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.
Verse Proverbs 13:2. Compare this with Proverbs 12:14. As the words of a good man benefit himself as well as others, so the evil deeds of transgressors react upon themselves.
Verse Proverbs 13:5. The contrast here between the wicked and the righteous is intense, in that concerning the righteous man the proverb simply states he hateth lying; concerning the wicked it declares that he becomes loathsome. That is to say, a righteous man keeping himself separate from wickedness hates lying. An evil man giving himself over to lying or other forms of sin becomes hated by others.
Verse Proverbs 13:8. That is to say that if wealth has its advantages, so also has poverty. The rich man by his wealth may be able to conserve his life, but the poor man escapes the very dangers into which the rich are brought.
Verse Proverbs 13:14. In this proverb the words "depart from the snares of death" interpret the action of such as obey the law. Thus by obedience to law a man departs from the snares of death, and so law becomes a fountain of life.
Verse Proverbs 13:19. The reason that desire is not accomplished is declared in the second part of this proverb. Men will not pay the price of departing from evil, and so fail of the sweetness of fulfilled desire.
Verse Proverbs 13:23. This is the declaration of an abiding truth that there is sustenance in the land, but men are excluded from it by injustice.