Proverbs 13:8-18

8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man ¹hears no threat.

9 ²The light of the righteous rejoices, but ³the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 ⁴By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

11 ⁵Wealth gained hastily^[a] will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, ⁶but a desire fulfilled is ⁷a tree of life.

13 Whoever ⁸despises ⁹the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be ¹⁰rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is ¹¹a fountain of life, that one may ¹²turn away from the snares of death.

15 ¹³Good sense wins ¹⁴favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.^[b]

16 ¹⁵In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, ¹⁶but a fool flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but ¹⁷a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ¹⁸ignores instruction, ¹⁹but whoever ²⁰heeds reproof is honored.

Cross References

• 1. [ver. 1]
• 2. [Job 29:3]
• 3. See Job 18:5
• 4. [Proverbs 28:25]
• 5. [Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 20:21; Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 28:20, 22]
• 6. [ver. 19]
• 7. See Proverbs 3:18
• 8. [Proverbs 19:16; Numbers 15:31; 2 Chronicles 36:16]
• 9. Proverbs 16:20; Deuteronomy 30:14
• 10. [ver. 21]
• 11. See Proverbs 10:11
• 12. Proverbs 14:27; [Psalms 18:5; 2 Timothy 2:26]
• 13. [Luke 2:52]; See Psalms 111:10
• 14. Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 22:1
• 15. [Proverbs 12:23; Proverbs 15:2]
• 16. [Proverbs 18:2; Ecclesiastes 10:3]
• 17. Proverbs 25:13; [Proverbs 14:5]
• 18. [Proverbs 15:5, 31, 32]
• 19. [Proverbs 15:5]
• 20. [Proverbs 15:31]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or by fraud
• [b]. Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut