Proverbs 13:20

20 Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer.

Proverbs 13:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 13:20

He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise
Who is a companion of them that fear the Lord; converses frequently with them in private about spiritual and experimental things, and walks with them in public in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; he by those means grows wiser and wiser, gains a large stock of spiritual knowledge and experience; for this holds good both in natural and spiritual wisdom, a man of any capacity at all will improve by keeping wise company; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed;
the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "shall become like them"; be a fool as they are, and grow still more and more foolish. The Septuagint version is, "shall be known"; known by the company he keeps to be a fool also: or rather, "shall be broken" F20; ruined and destroyed, "evil communications corrupt good manners", ( 1 Corinthians 15:33 ) , and so bring to ruin and destruction.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (ewry) "conteretur", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Mercerus, Gejerus; "conquassabitur", Cocceius; "fragetur", Michaelis; "infringetur", Schultens, so Ben Melech.

Proverbs 13:20 In-Context

18 Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline, but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored.
19 A fulfilled desire is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is disgusting to fools.
20 Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer.
21 Disaster hunts down sinners, but righteous people are rewarded with good.
22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.
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