Proverbs 13: Guard Your Words and Walk
The wise heed instruction, guard their mouths, and reap life, while the reckless court ruin.
Proverbs 13 (WEB)
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 with ones who take advice is wisdom.
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.
Proverbs 13 (KJV)
1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
Proverbs 13 (ASV)
1 A wise sonhearethhis father’s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherousshall eatviolence.
3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; Buthe that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shameshall be tohim that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21 Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23 Much foodis inthe tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.
Summary
This chapter weighs the long-term outcomes of wisdom and folly, especially around instruction, speech, diligence, and the company we keep. A wise son listens to his father, while a scoffer refuses rebuke; guarding the mouth guards the soul, but opening wide the lips brings ruin. Diligence satisfies the soul that the sluggard's empty craving never can, and wealth gained dishonestly dwindles while patient gathering grows. The chapter names the ache of hope deferred and the sweetness of longing fulfilled, a tree of life. It commends respecting instruction, walking with the wise rather than the foolish, and leaving an inheritance for one's children's children. It closes with the discipline of love, for the parent who loves a child is diligent to correct him, and the righteous eat to the full while the wicked go hungry.
Main Characters
- The wise — Those who heed instruction, guard their speech, and grow wiser by walking with other wise people.
- The sluggard — The one whose soul craves yet gains nothing, contrasted with the fully satisfied diligent.
- The scoffer — The one who will not listen to rebuke, refusing the discipline that leads to honor.
- The righteous — Those whose light shines brightly, who leave a lasting inheritance and eat to satisfaction.
Key Verse
Proverbs 13:20 (WEB)
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Lessons Learned
- Guarding our words guards our lives; careless speech invites ruin.
- The company we keep shapes us, for walking with the wise makes us wise.
- Diligence and patience produce satisfaction that shortcuts and laziness never deliver.
- Loving discipline, not indulgence, is how genuine love trains a child.
- Watching your words protects your life. He who guards his mouth guards his soul, but one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin (Proverbs 13:3, WEB).
- Diligence is satisfied where mere wishing starves. The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied (Proverbs 13:4, WEB).
- Hope delayed wearies, but fulfillment brings life. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12, WEB).
- Wisdom is caught from wise companions. One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20, WEB).
- Correction received leads to honor. Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored (Proverbs 13:18, WEB).
- True love disciplines rather than indulges. One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24, WEB).
- How does the chapter connect a person's mouth to the safety or ruin of their soul (Proverbs 13:3)?
- What contrast does the chapter draw between the sluggard and the diligent (Proverbs 13:4)?
- Why does the company we keep matter so much, according to the chapter (Proverbs 13:20)?
- What does it look like for you to receive correction as a path to honor rather than resent it?
- Whose influence is shaping you most right now, and is it making you wiser or causing you harm?
- Guarding the mouth guards the soul, while opening wide the lips leads to ruin. Speech is presented as a matter of life or death, so restraint and care in words protect the whole person.
- The sluggard's soul desires but gains nothing, while the desire of the diligent is fully satisfied. Craving without work yields emptiness; faithful labor yields fullness.
- One who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. We become like those we keep company with, so chosen relationships shape character and destiny.
- Personal: invite members to reflect on how they respond to correction. Encourage them to see heeded discipline as a road to honor, reframing reproof as a gift rather than a threat.
- Personal: let members honestly assess their closest influences. Encourage them to seek wise companionship and to be cautious of friendships that steadily pull them toward harm.