Proverbs 13:10-17

TEXT Proverbs 13:10-17

10.

By pride cometh only contention;

But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished;

But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

12.

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;

But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13.

Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself;

But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14.

The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

That one may depart from the snares of death.

15.

Good understanding giveth favor;

But the way of the transgressor is hard.

16.

Every prudent man worketh with knowledge;

But a fool flaunteth his folly.

17.

A wicked messenger falleth into evil;

But a faithful ambassador is health.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 13(10-17)

1.

Does wisdom in the last statement of Proverbs 13:10 mean the avoid of contention in the setting of the verse?

2.

And how can pride produce contention (Proverbs 13:10)?

3.

What is wealth gotten by vanity (Proverbs 13:11)?

4.

Cite ways that hope can be deferred, making the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12).

5.

What does tree of life mean in Proverbs 13:12?

6.

Whose word in Proverbs 13:13? Whose commandment?

7.

Comment upon snares of death (Proverbs 13:14).

8.

Can you cite ten Bible examples that show the way of the transgressor to be hard (Proverbs 13:15).

9.

From everyday life show three ways you have seen fools flaunt folly (Proverbs 13:16).

10.

Who would a wicked messenger be in Proverbs 13:17?

PARAPHRASE OF 13:10-17

10.

Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice and become wise.

11.

Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.

12.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.

13.

Despise God's Word and find yourself in trouble. Obey it and succeed.

14.

The advice of a wise man refreshes like water from a mountain spring. Those accepting it become aware of the pitfalls on ahead.

15.

A man with good sense is appreciated. A treacherous man must walk a rocky road.

16.

A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn-'t, and even brags about it!

17.

An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress.

COMMENTS ON 13:10-17

Proverbs 13:10. The King James puts only with pride: Only by pride cometh contention. Our text puts it with contention: By pride cometh only contention. Certainly contentions grow out of pride, one who will not be advised and who will argue back. The reason: a proud person is self-centered. A self-centered person knows it all, and when anyone tries to advise him, he gets into an argument. On the other hand why is wisdom with the well-advised? Because he knows all that he himself has learned plus that which he can pick up from others. He is not proud, so he can listen and learn.

Proverbs 13:11. Pulpit Commentary: Wealth obtained without labor and exertion, or by illegitimate and dishonest means is soon dissipated, is not blessed by God, and has no stability...Quickly won, quickly gone. Our saying: Easy come, easy go. But those who have obtained through hard work don-'t blow their money.

Proverbs 13:12. You look forward with anticipation to some day or event only to learn that it has been postponed, and what a letdown! To be put off, to be disappointed, is hard on the heart. Imagine Jacob's letdown when Rachel was not his after working those seven years for her! But when something does come to which one has long looked forward, it is a tree of life (health to the heart).

Proverbs 13:13. Probably referring to God's Word and commandment, although the same principle is in effect concerning any word of wisdom or just commandment. King Saul did not obey God's commandment to destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions so God took the kingship away from his house (1 Samuel 15:17-23). Look at Abraham as one who was rewarded for fearing God's commandment enough to have proceeded to sacrifice his son Isaac until God intervened (Genesis 22:1-18).

Proverbs 13:14. In Proverbs the second statement of a verse is usually a contrast to the verse's first statement. Occasionally it isn-'t, as in this verse. Pulpit Commentary: The rules and teaching of wise men are a source of life to those who follow them so that they depart from the snares of death. Jesus is the wise lawgiver of the New Testament (Acts 3:22), and all who follow His teachings will have life (John 8:12) and will escape the snares of the devil (1 Timothy 3:7) that bring death (Romans 6:23). How can one escape traps that are set for him? By following the wisdom of one who knows where those traps are!

Proverbs 13:15. We honor the person who knows and uses his understanding aright whether he be parent, leader, or neighbor. On the other hand we see the unbearable outcome of sin in Cain's statement, My punishment is greater than I can bear (Genesis 4:13), in King Saul's miserable end (1 Samuel 28:15-25; 1 Samuel 31:1-4), and in Judas Iscariot's suicide (Matthew 27:3-5).

Proverbs 13:16. Two altogether different kinds of persons: one man works with knowledge; the other shows off his folly. The fool does this because wisdom is too high for him (Proverbs 24:7). David showed his prudence in the way he dealt with Saul, with his brothers, with Absalom, and with others. I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling and as a result find out knowledge and discretion (Proverbs 8:12).

Proverbs 13:17. A wicked messenger is one who is not true to the one sending him. He will be called to answer for his unfaithfulness. A curse belongs to one who perverts the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). One who is a faithful representative brings joy to the one dispatching him. God was pleased with Jesus (Matthew 17:5), and Christ will be pleased with us if we faithfully proclaim His Word (Matthew 28:19-20).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 13:10-17

1.

How does pride bring contention (Proverbs 13:10)?

2.

Why is wisdom with the well-advised (Proverbs 13:10)?

3.

Why is wealth gotten by vanity short-lived (Proverbs 13:11)?

4.

Why is wealth gotten by hard work more enduring (Proverbs 13:11)?

5.

What does hope deferred bring (Proverbs 13:12)?

6.

What is the difference in the end of one who fears God's commandments and one who doesn-'t (Proverbs 13:13)?

7.

Which verse of this section does not contain a contrast?

8.

What does the law of the wise permit a person to escape (Proverbs 13:14)?

9.

Illustrate the truth of good understanding bringing favor (Proverbs 13:15).

10.

Illustrate the truth that the way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15).

11.

What two different kinds of persons does Proverbs 13:16 talk about?

12.

What does it say about each (Proverbs 13:16)?

13.

What kind of evil will a wicked messenger fall into (Proverbs 13:17)?

14.

What kind of health does a faithful ambassador bring (Proverbs 13:17)?