Proverbs 13:13

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

Proverbs 13:13 in Other Translations

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

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

13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.

13 Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 13:13

Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed
The word of God. Either Christ, the essential Word; which must be a great evil, considering the dignity of his person; great ingratitude, considering the grace of his office; very dangerous, considering what a quick, sharp, and powerful Word he is: and such may be said to despise him who despise his ministers, and the Gospel preached by them; and which may be meant by the word, that being the word of God and of truth, the word of righteousness, peace, life, and salvation; and is to them that perish foolishness; and to whom it is so, they shall perish, and be punished with everlasting destruction, for their contempt of it, and disobedience to it. Or the written word may be meant, the Scriptures, which are given by inspiration of God, and therefore ought to be had in the greatest reverence; and yet are greatly slighted and despised by the man of sin and his followers; who set up and prefer their unwritten traditions to them, and so make them of none effect: such are all false teachers, that despise or abuse them, they bring destruction to themselves; for so the words may be rendered, "shall bring destruction to himself", or shall receive detriment from it: so the Targum, from the word itself; the Syriac version, "by it"; and the Arabic version, "by the commandment itself"; by the threatenings in it, and according to them: or, "because of it"; because of the contempt of it; but he that feareth the commandment;
receives the word with reverence, trembles at it; fears God, and keeps his commandments, and fears to break them: he shall be rewarded;
with good, as the Targum adds; for in keeping the commandments of God there is great reward: or, "shall enjoy peace", or "be in safety" ^F11; for great peace have they which love the law of God, and serve it: or, "shall be sound, [and] in health" ^F12; when those that despise it "shall be corrupted" ^F13; as the word in the preceding clause may be rendered.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (Mlvy) "in pace versabitur", V. L. "fruetur pace", Vatablus; "donatur pace", Junius & Tremellius; "pacabitur", Cocceius; "salvabitur", Syriac version.
F12 (ugiainei) , Sept.
F13 (lbxy) "corrumpetur"; Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius.

Proverbs 13:13 In-Context

11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

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

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

15 Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

Cross References

• 1. S Numbers 15:31; 2 Chronicles 36:16
• 2. Exodus 9:20
• 3. Proverbs 16:20