Proverbs 13
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 13
The Light of the Righteous Shines Brightly[a]
1 A wise son listens to his father’s correction,
but a mocker will not accept any rebuke.[b]
2 A good man derives nourishment from the fruit of his words,
but one who is treacherous craves violence.
3 He who guards his mouth makes his life secure,
but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall.[c]
4 The idler[d] craves for food and remains unsatisfied,
but the appetite of the diligent is fully sated.
5 The righteous man hates words that are deceitful,
but the evildoer slanders and defames.
6 Righteousness stands guard over one who is honest,
but sin brings about the ruin of the wicked.
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor,[e] yet has great wealth.
8 A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life;[f]
a poor man never has to worry about such threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp[g] of the wicked is extinguished.
10 An ignorant man causes strife by his insolence,
but wisdom is found with those who take advice.
11 Wealth hastily acquired will dwindle away,
but when amassed little by little, it will increase.
12 Hope deferred sickens the heart,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 One who refuses to accept advice is headed for destruction,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.[h]
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life
enabling one to avoid the snares of death.[i]
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the faithless leads to their destruction.
16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge,
but a fool proudly parades his folly.
17 An unreliable messenger engenders trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace befall one who ignores discipline,
but one who takes correction is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
while fools regard turning from evil as an abomination.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm.[j]
21 Misfortune afflicts the sinful,
but good fortune is the reward of the upright.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 The fields of the poor may yield much food,
but it is stolen from them through injustice.
24 He who spares the rod[k] hates his son,
but one who loves his son will take care to discipline him.
25 The righteous man has enough food to appease his hunger,
but the belly of the wicked man is empty.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 In this uninterrupted accumulation of ancient proverbs, we find words about education and good sense; if one proverb highlights the burden of wealth, another presents it as a reward. However, in these diverse aphorisms the idea of a righteous life is always there, even though the author allows strongly opposed conceptions to be expressed. In all countries, each proverb finds its counter-maxim; but from the whole a vision of things comes through that is proper to a civilization or a religion.
Rather than giving direct teaching, the Book of Proverbs provides us with an atmosphere in which to reflect; we are to learn to appreciate the mood and the felicitous formulation, without taking each maxim literally. We must bear in mind the penchant of Semitic poetry for strong expressions and its use of parallelism (either repetition or contrast). - Proverbs 13:1 A mocker will not accept any rebuke: see notes on Prov 1:22; 9:7-12.
- Proverbs 13:3 The tongue has the power over life and death (see Prov 10:19; 18:21; 21:23; Jas 3:6).
- Proverbs 13:4 Idler: see note on Prov 6:6.
- Proverbs 13:7 Pretends to be rich . . . pretends to be poor: both pretenses are foolish and lead to folly (see Prov 11:28; 12:9; 14:8).
- Proverbs 13:8 Pays a ransom to save his life: the wealthy have the means to ward off enemies (see note on Prov 10:15). The poor are never held for ransom.
- Proverbs 13:9 Light . . . lamp: symbols of life (see Job 3:20). Lamp of the wicked is extinguished: see Prov 20:20; 24:20; Job 18:5; 21:17.
- Proverbs 13:13 The reward indicated is to receive the benefits of wisdom (see note on Prov 3:2; see also v. 21; 3:16-18).
- Proverbs 13:14 Life . . . death: in this and other similar proverbs, these two words indicate “a long and happy life” and a “premature death” respectively.
- Proverbs 13:20 This verse stresses the need to choose friends and associates wisely (see Prov 2:20; 12:26) and to steer clear of the wicked (see Prov 1:10, 18; 2:12; 16:29; 22:24-25).
- Proverbs 13:24 Rod: most likely a symbol for any kind of discipline, which protects one’s children from folly and leads them away from evil paths (see Prov 19:18; 23:13-14). A “rod” of correction is really a “rod” of love—even God makes use of it for the good of his faithful (see note on Prov 3:11-12).
Ordspråksboken 13
Svenska 1917
13 En vis son hör på sin faders tuktan, men en bespottare hör icke på någon näpst.
2 Sin muns frukt får envar njuta sig till godo, de trolösa hungra efter våld.
3 Den som bevakar sin mun, han bevarar sitt liv, men den som är lösmunt kommer i olycka
4 Den late är full av lystnad, och han får dock intet, men de idogas hunger varder rikligen mättad.
5 Den rättfärdige skyr lögnaktigt tal, men den ogudaktige är förhatlig och skändlig.
6 Rättfärdighet bevarar den vilkens väg är ostrafflig, men ogudaktighet kommer syndarna på fall.
7 Den ene vill hållas för rik och har dock alls intet, den andre vill hållas för fattig och har dock stora ägodelar.
8 Den rike måste giva sin rikedom såsom lösepenning för sitt liv, den fattige hör icke av något
9 De rättfärdigas ljus brinner glatt, men de ogudaktigas lampa slocknar ut.
10 Genom övermod kommer man allenast split åstad, men hos dem som taga emot råd är vishet.
11 Lättfånget gods försvinner, men den som samlar efter hand får mycket.
12 Förlängd väntan tär på hjärtat, men en uppfylld önskan är ett livets träd.
13 Den som föraktar ordet hemfaller åt dess dom, men den som fruktar budet, han får vedergällning.
14 Den vises undervisning är en livets källa; genom den undviker man dödens snaror.
15 Ett gott förstånd bereder ynnest, men de trolösas väg är alltid sig lik.
16 Var och en som är klok går till väga med förstånd, men dåren breder ut sitt oförnuft.
17 En ogudaktig budbärare störtar i olycka, men ett tillförlitligt sändebud är en läkedom.
18 Fattigdom och skam får den som ej vill veta av tuktan, men den som tager vara på tillrättavisning, han kommer till ära.
19 Uppfylld önskan är ljuvlig för själen, men att fly det onda är en styggelse för dårar.
20 Hav din umgängelse med de visa, så varder du vis; den som giver sig i sällskap med dårar, honom går det illa.
21 Syndare förföljas av olycka, men de rättfärdiga få till lön vad gott är.
22 Den gode lämnar arv åt barnbarn, men syndarens gods förvaras åt den rättfärdige.
23 De fattigas nyodling giver riklig föda, men mången förgås genom sin orättrådighet.
24 Den som spar sitt ris, han hatar sin son, men den som älskar honom agar honom i tid.
25 Den rättfärdige får äta, så att hans hunger bliver mättad, men de ogudaktigas buk måste lida brist.
