Proverbs 13:1-9

CHAPTER 13
TEXT Proverbs 13:1-9

1.

A wise son heareth his father's instruction;

But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.

2.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth;

But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.

3.

He that guardeth 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 guardeth him that is upright in the way;

But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

7.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:

There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

8.

The ransom of a man's life is his riches;

But the poor heareth no threatening.

9.

The light of the righteous rejoiceth;

But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 13:1-9

1.

Is the son wise to hear his father or wise because he hears (Proverbs 13:1)?

2.

Why does a scoffer not listen (Proverbs 13:1)?

3.

What is the meaning of soul in Proverbs 13:2?

4.

What are some things that guarded speech will not permit to be said (Proverbs 13:3)?

5.

What does open wide his lips mean (Proverbs 13:3)?

6.

From what small animal does our word sluggard come (Proverbs 13:4)?

7.

What is the small animal known for (Proverbs 13:4)?

8.

Does fat in Proverbs 13:4 stand for something good or something bad?

9.

Cite passages in which both God and godly people hate sin (Proverbs 13:5).

10.

What does loathsome mean (Proverbs 13:5)?

11.

List the contrasts in Proverbs 13:6.

12.

How can a person emphasize riches and yet have none (Proverbs 13:7)?

13.

How can a person be poor and yet have great wealth (Proverbs 13:7)?

14.

What is meant in Proverbs 13:8 by riches being the ransom of a man's life?

15.

What does Proverbs 13:8 have in mind when it says the poor hear no threatening?

16.

What do light and lamp in Proverbs 13:9 stand for?

PARAPHRASE OF 13:1-9

1.

A wise youth accepts his father's rebuke; a young mocker doesn-'t.

2.

The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight.

3.

Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.

4.

Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering.

5.

A good man hates lies; wicked men lie constantly and come to shame.

6.

A man's goodness helps him all through life, while evil men are being destroyed by their wickedness.

7.

Some rich people are poor, and some poor people have great wealth!

8.

Being kidnaped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!

9.

The good man's life is full of light. The sinner's road is dark and gloomy.

COMMENTS ON 13:1-9

Proverbs 13:1. Instruction for the wise, rebuke for the unwise. Wisdom is shown in respecting the age, learning, and office of the father; the scoffer respects nobody. He is wise in his own conceit (Romans 12:16). Samson did not regard the rebuke of his father (Judges 14:1-4) not did Eli's son regard his (1 Samuel 2:22-25). If a son will not respect his father enough to follow his instructions, it will not be surprising if he doesn-'t receive his rebuke. One who scoffs at his father now will scoff at God and sacred things also.

Proverbs 13:2 Compare Proverbs 12:14. Ever hear of eating your own words? What people do and say will determine what they eat as a result. What will you eat?

Proverbs 13:3. Guarding one's mouth suggests that a person should not say just anything that comes into his/her mind. One who opens his lips wide is one who talks too much and consequently says some things he shouldn-'t. If we keep our mouth, we keep ourselves from many troubles (Proverbs 21:23). Let us say with David, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue (Psalms 39:1).

Proverbs 13:4. It is easy to pass somebody's nicely kept farmstead or home and wish to be a farmer or have a well kept home. It is easy to hear somebody speak who knows the Scripture and wish to be able to find things in the Bible. But while desiring is the basis of getting, it takes much work and application to make dreams and desires come true, and this becomes the downfall of the lazy (Proverbs 10:4). Pulpit Commentary: He has the wish, but not the will.

Proverbs 13:5. The righteous hate all sin (Romans 12:9). The wicked are loathsome in the eyes of others who deplore their conduct, and they come to no good end.

Proverbs 13:6. Proverbs 11:6 is a companion verse. Righteousness keeps one from getting into trouble, but a sinner is overthrown in his wickedness.

Proverbs 13:7. Some take the Hebrew for maketh himself to mean feign. If that translation is correct, the verse would be speaking of some who were poor but feigned themselves to be rich while others with great wealth would feign themselves poor. The above are both sometimes done. Another meaning commonly taken on the verse: some who would be rich and who do everything they can to become rich end in poverty while others are always giving away and giving away and yet end up rich. The latter view may be referring to the nothing that the wicked rich people will have in eternity (Luke 12:20-21) and to the great wealth that the righteous will have who have laid up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). Translations and commentaries seem to favor the first position.

Proverbs 13:8. Clarke: In despotic countries a rich man is often accused of some capital crime, and to save his life, though he may be quite innocent, is obliged to give up his riches; but the poor in such countries are put to no trouble.

Proverbs 13:9. Various passages refer to the lamp or light of the -wicked being put out (Job 18:5-6; Job 21:17; Proverbs 24:20). While applied to the individual and his life, the figure was drawn from their household habit: No house, however poor, is left without a light burning in it all night; the housewife rising betimes to secure its continuance by replenishing the lamp with oil. If a lamp goes out, it is a fatal omen (Geike). The Septuagint translates: The light of the righteous is everlasting; but the light of sinners is quenched.

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 13:1-9

1.

What about a wise son and his father's instruction (Proverbs 13:1)?

2.

What about a scoffer and rebuke (Proverbs 13:1)?

3.

What does Proverbs 13:2 say a treacherous man will have to eat?

4.

What does guarding one's mouth imply should be done (Proverbs 13:3)?

5.

Why will the sluggard have nothing (Proverbs 13:6)?

6.

Why will the diligent prosper (Proverbs 13:4)?

7.

What is a righteous man's attitude toward lying (Proverbs 13:5).

8.

Find the triple contrast in Proverbs 13:6.

9.

What two positions have been taken concerning the meaning of Proverbs 13:7?

10.

What did a rich man sometimes have to sacrifice in order to save his life (Proverbs 13:8)?

11.

What was meant by the lamp of the wicked being put out (Proverbs 13:9)?