What does Proverbs Chapter 13 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Opening comparisons and commands retain the chapter’s wording. The speaker’s examples and future assertions remain attributed. Closing sayings are preserved without added events or universal guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 13 contrasts a father-hearing wise son with reproof-unhearing scorner. Mouth fruit shall fill with good, transgressor soul wicked; guarding mouth guards soul, unguarded speech meets evils. Sluggard wills and wills not, worker soul shall be made fat. Just shall hate lying, wicked confounds and shall be confounded. Justice keeps innocent way, wickedness overthrows sinner. One is as rich with nothing, another as poor with great riches; riches ransom life and poor bears not reprehension. No kidnappers or extortion incident is supplied. Just light gives joy, wicked lamp shall be put out.

Proud people have contentions; counsel-led actions governed by wisdom. Hasty substance shall diminish, little-by-little hand gathering increase. Deferred hope afflicts soul and arriving desire is life’s tree. Ill-speaking binds for future, commandment-fearer shall dwell in peace; deceitful souls stray in sins, just show mercy. Wise law is life’s fountain to avoid death’s ruin. Good instruction shall give grace, scorner way deep pit; prudent acts with counsel, fool exposes folly. Wicked messenger shall fall in mischief, faithful ambassador health. Rejecting instruction brings poverty and shame, yielding reproof glory. Accomplished desire delights soul, fools hate evil-fleeing people.

Walking with wise shall bring wisdom, fool-friend become like them. Evil pursues sinners, good shall repay just. Good man leaves heirs, sons and grandsons; sinner substance kept for just. Fathers’ tillage holds much food, for others gathered without judgment. Rod sparing is said to hate son, loving correction occurs betimes. Just eats and fills soul, wicked belly never filled. These sayings do not establish a particular inheritance transfer, financial security guarantee, psychological cure or invented gratitude scene.

The story inside

Opening: Opening comparisons and commands retain the chapter’s wording. Development: The speaker’s examples and future assertions remain attributed. Conclusion: Closing sayings are preserved without added events or universal guarantees.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Opening comparisons and commands retain the chapter’s wording.
2
The speaker’s examples and future assertions remain attributed.
3
Closing sayings are preserved without added events or universal guarantees.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 68270–68278
13:1. A wise son heareth the doctrine of his father: but he that is a scorner, heareth not when he is reproved. 13:2. Of the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good things: but the soul of transgressors is wicked. 13:3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his soul: but he that hath no guard on his speech shall meet with evils.
Lines 68294–68302
13:9. The light of the just giveth joy: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 13:10. Among the proud there are always contentions: but they that do all things with counsel, are ruled by wisdom. 13:11. Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by little and little is gathered with the hand, shall increase.
Lines 68326–68346
13:19. The desire that is accomplished, delighteth the soul: fools hate them that flee from evil things. 13:20. He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools shall become like to them. 13:21. Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid. 13:22. The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the substance of the sinner is kept for the just. 13:23. Much food is in the tillage of fathers: but for others it is gathered without judgment. 13:24. He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, correcteth him betimes. 13:25. The just eateth and filleth his soul: but the belly of the wicked is never to be filled.