131 A wise son—the instruction of a father, And a scorner—he hath not heard rebuke.
2 From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous—violence.
3 Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!
4 The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.
6 Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.
7 There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth 'is' abundant.
8 The ransom of a man's life 'are' his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled 'is' wisdom.
11 Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.
12 Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life 'is' the coming desire.
13 Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.
14 The law of the wise 'is' a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous 'is' hard.
16 Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
18 Whoso is refusing instruction—poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 13:1-18
Commentary on Proverbs 13:1
(Read Proverbs 13:1)
There is great hope of those that reverence their parents. There is little hope of any who will not hear those that deal faithfully with them.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:2
(Read Proverbs 13:2)
By our words we must be justified or condemned, Matthew 12:37.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:3
(Read Proverbs 13:3)
He that thinks before he speaks, that suppresses evil if he have thought it, keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief. Many a one is ruined by an ungoverned tongue.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:4
(Read Proverbs 13:4)
The slothful desire the gains the diligent get, but hate the pains the diligent take; therefore they have nothing. This is especially true as to the soul.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:5
(Read Proverbs 13:5)
Where sin reigns, the man is loathsome. If his conscience were awake, he would abhor himself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:6
(Read Proverbs 13:6)
An honest desire to do right, preserves a man from fatal mistakes, better than a thousand fine-drawn distinctions.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:7
(Read Proverbs 13:7)
Some who are really poor, trade and spend as if they were rich: this is sin, and will be shame, and it will end accordingly. Some that are really rich, would be thought to be poor: in this there is want of gratitude to God, want of justice and charity to others. There are many hypocrites, empty of grace, who will not be convinced of their poverty. There are many fearing Christians, who are spiritually rich, yet think themselves poor; by their doubts, and complaints, and griefs, they make themselves poor.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:8
(Read Proverbs 13:8)
Great riches often tempt to violence against those that possess them; but the poor are free from such perils.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:9
(Read Proverbs 13:9)
The light of the righteous is as that of the sun, which may be eclipsed and clouded, but will continue: the Spirit is their Light, he gives a fulness of joy: that of the wicked is as a lamp of their own kindling, easily put out.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:10
(Read Proverbs 13:10)
All contentions, whether between private persons, families, churches, or nations, are begun and carried forward by pride. Disputes would be easily prevented or ended, if it were not for pride.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:11
(Read Proverbs 13:11)
Wealth gotten by dishonesty or vice, has a secret curse, which will speedily waste it.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:12
(Read Proverbs 13:12)
The delay of what is anxiously hoped for, is very painful to the mind; obtaining it is very pleasant. But spiritual blessings are chiefly intended.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:13
(Read Proverbs 13:13)
He that stands in awe of God, and reverences his word, shall escape destruction, and be rewarded for his godly fear.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:14
(Read Proverbs 13:14)
The rule by which the wise regulate their conduct, is a fountain yielding life and happiness.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:15
(Read Proverbs 13:15)
The way of sinners is hard upon others, and hard to the sinner himself. The service of sin is slavery; the road to hell is strewed with the thorns and thistles that followed the curse.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:16
(Read Proverbs 13:16)
It is folly to talk of things of which we know nothing, and to undertake what we are no way fit for.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:17
(Read Proverbs 13:17)
Those that are wicked, and false to Christ and to the souls of men, do mischief, and fall into mischief; but those that are faithful, find sound words healing to others and to themselves.
Commentary on Proverbs 13:18
(Read Proverbs 13:18)
He that scorns to be taught, will certainly be brought down.