Proverbs 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²¹ Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

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

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

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

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

Around Proverbs 13

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

About Proverbs as a whole · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this book is about

Two voices call from the high places of a city, and both want the same passers-by. “Wisdom has built her house”, the ninth chapter says. She has set her table and sent out her maidens, and she calls the simple to leave their simple ways. Across the street, a loud and undisciplined woman, Folly, sits at her door and calls the very same crowd.

That picture captures the whole book. Proverbs gathers short sayings and longer poems about living wisely. Its starting point is that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” It contrasts the wise and the foolish in speech, work, money, friendship, marriage and the raising of children.

In the opening chapters wisdom is pictured as a woman calling out in the streets. The book ends with a poem in praise of a capable wife.

Background

Most of the sayings are linked with Solomon. Others are credited to Agur, to King Lemuel and to unnamed wise teachers, and one section was copied by officials of King Hezekiah about two centuries after Solomon (25:1). Similar collections of wisdom are known from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

How Christians read it

A proverb states what is generally true, not a guarantee for every case. Reading the sayings as promises leads to disappointment, and the books of Job and Ecclesiastes show the exceptions. The New Testament speaks of Christ as the wisdom of God, and many Christians read the figure of wisdom in chapter 8 in that light.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 19 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

Report a mistake