Old Testament

Proverbs 13

Diligence, Integrity, and Wise Company

9 passages

Overview

Through a series of contrasting observations on speech, wealth, pride, discipline, longing, and companionship, this chapter sets the ruin that follows folly and self-deception against the security, sufficiency, and generational blessing that belong to those who embrace wisdom and righteous living.

Passages

1–3The Wise Tongue: Speech, Instruction, and Self-Mastery 4–6Desire, Integrity, and the Guard of Righteousness 7–9True and False Wealth: The Light of the Righteous 10–11Pride, Quarrels, and Ill-Gotten Gains 12–14Hope, Instruction, and the Spring of Life 15–17Prudence, Knowledge, and the Faithful Messenger 18–20Discipline, Fulfilled Longing, and the Company We Keep 21–23Trails of Ruin and Rivers of Blessing: Retribution, Inheritance, and Justice for the Poor 24–25Loving Discipline and the Contentment of the Righteous

Study Resources

No study guides, devotionals, or teaching outlines have been created for this chapter yet.

Proverbs 13

¹A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

²By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.

³He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

⁵A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

⁶Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

⁸The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

⁹The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

¹⁰Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.

¹¹Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

¹³Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

¹⁵Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

¹⁶Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

¹⁸Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

¹⁹Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

²¹Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

²³An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

²⁵The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

Proverbs 12 Proverbs 14