Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Template:Sfn The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.Template:Sfn This chapter is a part of the second collection of the book.Template:Sfn

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 13 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	Template:Script/Hebrew	A wise son is instructed of his father; But a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2	Template:Script/Hebrew	A man shall eat good from the fruit of his mouth; But the desire of the faithless is violence.
3	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But for him that openeth wide his lips there shall be ruin.
4	Template:Script/Hebrew	The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be abundantly gratified.
5	Template:Script/Hebrew	A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man behaveth vilely and shamefully.
6	Template:Script/Hebrew	Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7	Template:Script/Hebrew	There is that pretendeth himself rich, yet hath nothing; There is that pretendeth himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8	Template:Script/Hebrew	The ransom of a man’s life are his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
9	Template:Script/Hebrew	The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10	Template:Script/Hebrew	By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11	Template:Script/Hebrew	Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth little by little shall increase. .
12	Template:Script/Hebrew	Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13	Template:Script/Hebrew	Whoso despiseth the word shall suffer thereby; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14	Template:Script/Hebrew	The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To depart from the snares of death.
15	Template:Script/Hebrew	Good understanding giveth grace; But the way of the faithless is harsh.
16	Template:Script/Hebrew	Every prudent man dealeth with forethought; But a fool unfoldeth folly.
17	Template:Script/Hebrew	A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
18	Template:Script/Hebrew	Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19	Template:Script/Hebrew	The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; And it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21	Template:Script/Hebrew	Evil pursueth sinners; But to the righteous good shall be repaid.
22	Template:Script/Hebrew	A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23	Template:Script/Hebrew	Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is swept away by want of righteousness.
24	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25	Template:Script/Hebrew	The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his desire; But the belly of the wicked shall want.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).Template:Sfn Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q103 (4QProvTemplate:Sup; 30 BCE – 30 CE) with extant verses 6–9.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $𝔊$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $𝔊$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $𝔊$^A; 5th century).Template:Sfn

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the second collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 10:1–22:16), also called "The First 'Solomonic' Collection" (the second one in Proverbs 25:1–29:27).Template:Sfn The collection contains 375 sayings, each of which consists of two parallel phrases, except for Proverbs 19:7 which consists of three parts.Template:Sfn

Verse 1

• "HearsTemplate:Nbsp[...] instruction": from the Hebrew word Template:Lang, which the Masoretic Text reads as the noun Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration, 'discipline', hence depriving the first clause of a verb,Template:Sfn but G. R. Driver suggested that the same word (which originally does not contain vocalization) be read as Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration, 'allows himself to be disciplined'. A few Medieval Hebrew manuscripts, read Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration, to render the clause "a wise son listens to/obeys his father", which is supported by the Greek Septuagint, and the Syriac versions.

This saying reinforces the parental appeals of chapters 1–9, with a warning that a refusal to heed correction ("rebuke") would place 'wisdom beyond reach' of the 'scoffer' (cf. Proverbs 9:7–8; 14:6; 15:12). verse 24 uses the word 'discipline' (Hebrew: Template:Transliteration) in relation to physical chastisement.Template:Sfn

Verse 24

• "Rod": from Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration, also meaning 'staff, club, scepter, tribe', here in the sense of "correction" which a child's fault requires.
• "Hates": from Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration, in essence "abandon" or "reject" a child for failing to discipline—not caring about the child's character.

The word 'discipline' here is used in relation to 'physical chastisement' (cf. "instruction" in verse 1), which is viewed as essential for the upbringing of a child.Template:Sfn The contrast between 'hate' and 'love' points to the importance of the wisdom attached to it (cf. Proverbs 20:30; 23:13–14).Template:Sfn

See also

• Child discipline
• Fear of God
• Mitzvah
• Parenting
• Sin
• Proverbs 9
• Proverbs 20
• Proverbs 23

Sources

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External links

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 13 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 13 King James Version
• Template:Librivox book Various versions