Bible Commentaries
Verse 1
(Compare Proverbs 6:1-5; Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 10:17).
Verse 2
shall eat — that is, obtain (Proverbs 12:14).
transgressors — as in Proverbs 2:22.
violence — or, “mischief” to themselves.
Verse 3
mouth life — because evil speeches may provoke violence from others.he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction — On last clause, compare Proverbs 10:14.
Verse 4
(Compare Proverbs 12:11, Proverbs 12:27).
Verse 5
shame — better, causeth shame and reproach (compare Proverbs 19:26), by slander, etc., which the righteous hates.Verse 6
A sentiment of frequent recurrence, that piety benefits and sin injures.
Verse 7
In opposite ways men act hypocritically for gain of honor or wealth.
Verse 8
Riches save some from punishment, while others suffer because they will not heed the rebuke of sloth, which makes and keeps them poor.
Verse 9
light lamp — prosperity; the first, the greater, and it
rejoiceth — burns brightly, or continues, while the other, at best small, soon fails.
Verse 10
The obstinacy which attends self-conceit, produces contention, which the well-advised, thus evincing modesty, avoid.
Verse 11
by vanity — or, “nothingness,” that is, which is vain or useless to the public (as card playing or similar vices).
gathereth labour — (Compare Margin), little by little, laboriously.
Verse 13
the word — that is, of advice, or, instruction (compare Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 11:31).
Verse 14
(Compare Proverbs 10:11).
fountain — or, “source of life.”
to depart — (compare Proverbs 1:2-4), or, “for departing,” etc., and so gives life.
Verse 15
Right perception and action secure good will, while evil ways are difficult as a stony road. The wicked left of God find punishment of sin in sinning.
hard — or, “harsh” (compare Hebrew: Deuteronomy 21:4; Jeremiah 5:15).
Verse 17
A wicked — or, “unfaithful”
messenger falleth into mischief — or, “by mischief,” or “evil,” and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others.
Verse 18
(Compare Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 12:1).
Verse 19
Self-denial, which fools will not endure, is essential to success.
Verse 20
The benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted.
Verse 22
just — While good men‘s estates remain in their families, God so orders that the gains of sinners inure to the just (compare Proverbs 28:8; Psalm 37:18, Psalm 37:22, Psalm 37:26, etc.).Verse 23
The laboring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labor.
Verse 24
spareth — or, “withholds.”
rod — of correction.
hateth — or, acts as if he hated him (compare Proverbs 3:12; Proverbs 8:36).
chasteneth betimes — or, “diligently seeks for him all useful discipline.”
Verse 25
The comparative temporal prosperity of the righteous and wicked, rather than contentment and discontent, is noted.
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text scanned by Woodside Bible Fellowship.
This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary is in the public domain and may be freely used and distributed.
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.; Fausset, A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on Proverbs 13". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/
the Third Week after Epiphany