Proverbs 13:20

20 He that goeth with wise men, shall be wise (He who goeth with the wise, shall be wise); the friend of fools shall be made like 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Proverbs 13:20 In-Context

18 Neediness and shame is to him that forsaketh teaching; but he that assenteth to a blamer, shall be glorified. (Neediness and shame shall be for him who abandoneth his teaching, or his instruction; but he who assenteth to a rebuker, shall be honoured.)

19 Desire, if it is [ful]filled, delighteth the soul; fools loathe them that flee evils.

20 He that goeth with wise men, shall be wise (He who goeth with the wise, shall be wise); the friend of fools shall be made like them.

21 Evil pursueth sinners; and goods shall be given to just men (but good things shall be given to the righteous).

22 A good man shall leave after him heirs, sons, and the sons of sons; and the chattel of a sinner is kept to a just man. (A good person shall leave heirs after him, yea, sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters; but a sinner's possessions shall be given to the righteous.)