Proverbs 13:20

20 He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools shall become like to them.

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 to him that refuseth instruction: but he that yieldeth to reproof shall be glorified.

19 The desire that is accomplished, delighteth the soul: fools hate them that flee from evil things.

20 He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools shall become like to them.

21 Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid.

22 The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the substance of the sinner is kept for the just.