Chapter Thirteen

1–3. Introductory remarks on the benefit to a young man of hearing the lessons of wisdom. 4–12. The correct view of the significance and use of wealth. 13–17. On the blessing of the word of God. 18–25. Exhortation to obedience to the word of God.

Proverbs 13:1. A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 13:2. From the fruit of their mouth a person enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence. Proverbs 13:3. Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. The thought about a young man’s duty to give heed to the lessons of wisdom is a favorite thought of the Wise One (cf. Prov 15:12). Equally common in the Book of Proverbs are the thoughts about the value of the gift of speech and about responsibility for the misuse of this gift (vv. 2–3, cf. Prov 12:14).

Proverbs 13:4. The sluggard’s craving brings no result, but the appetite of the diligent is fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:5. The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves. Proverbs 13:6. Righteousness guards the person of blameless integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. Proverbs 13:7. One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Proverbs 13:8. Riches serve as ransom for a person’s life, but the poor hear no threat. Proverbs 13:9. The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. “Proverbs 13. Prov.13:9a. [Deceitful souls wander in sin, but the righteous show compassion and mercy.]” Proverbs 13:10. Arrogance only breeds conflict, but wisdom is found among those who take advice. Proverbs 13:11. Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. The goods of life are of two kinds: spiritual, religious-moral, and material, often connected with one another; correspondingly in this section, together and alternately, one speaks of observations on the external life of people (vv. 7–8) and of practical requirements of material well-being, such as: abstention from laziness and diligence (v. 4), frugality (v. 11), the force and dangers of wealth (v. 8); then proper moral truths are set forth, such as: the benefit and glory of righteousness (vv. 5–6, 9, 12). In v. 9 according to the LXX text (not in all manuscripts) there is an addition: ψυχαὶ δόλιαι πλανῶνται ἐν ἁμαρτιάις, δίκαιοι δἐ οἰκτίρούσι καὶ ἐλεοῦσι, Slavonic: «deceitful souls go astray in sin, the righteous have compassion and show mercy» (in the Russian Synodal this addition is enclosed in brackets). These words, while having no direct connection with the preceding words of v. 9, still accord with the general moral tone of this section.

Proverbs 13:13. Whoever disregards the word brings harm upon himself; but whoever fears the commandment will be rewarded. Proverbs 13:14. [A wicked son has nothing good, but a wise servant has successful deeds, and his way is straight.] Proverbs 13:15. The teaching of the wise is a source of life, turning away from the snares of death. Proverbs 13:16. Good understanding brings favor, but the way of the lawless is harsh. Proverbs 13:17. Every prudent person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his foolishness. Here are explained more fully the thoughts about the benefit and saving power of true wisdom that heeds the lessons of God’s word, and about the harm of disregarding it (cf. Prov 1:24 and others).

Proverbs 13:18. A bad messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful messenger brings salvation. Proverbs 13:19. Poverty and shame come to those who reject instruction; but whoever keeps admonition will be honored. Proverbs 13:20. A desire fulfilled is pleasant to the soul; but it is unbearable for fools to turn away from evil. Proverbs 13:21. Whoever walks with the wise will become wise, but whoever keeps company with fools will be corrupted. Proverbs 13:22. Evil pursues sinners, but good is repaid to the righteous. Proverbs 13:23. The good leave an inheritance even to their grandchildren, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:24. Much food is in the field of the poor; but some perish from lack of order. Proverbs 13:25. Whoever spares the rod hates his son; but whoever loves him disciplines him from childhood. Proverbs 13:26. The righteous eats to satisfaction, but the belly of the lawless suffers want. A series of varied judgments is presented, united only by the common relation to wisdom and its significance in daily life. Thus it speaks of opposite consequences—attention and inattention to the teaching of wisdom (v. 19–20, Heb. 18–19), of the influence on a person from the society in which he moves (v. 21, Heb. 20), of personal happiness and that of descendants—of the righteous and misfortune of the sinner (v. 22–23, Heb. 21–22), of the material contentment of the former and the deprivation of the latter (v. 24–26, Heb. 23–25); and here (v. 25, Heb. 24), as also below (Prov 23:13), a remark is made about the necessity of applying measures of physical discipline in the work of raising children.