Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Proverbs-Chapter 13

Prov 13.1-25 continues with the contrast between the righteous and the wicked.

v 1…A wise son accepts his father’s discipline (it makes an impression on him), but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke (rejects all guidance, never learns).

v 2…From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys (eats) good (enjoys the fruits of his work), but the desire (heart, soul) of the treacherous is violence (only satisfied with doing evil to others).

v 3…The one who guards his mouth (talks less) preserves his life (keeps himself out of trouble); the one who opens wide his mouth comes to ruin (he talks too much, opens himself up to destruction).

v 4…The soul of the sluggard (lazy) craves (desires) and gets nothing (because they will not apply themselves), but the soul of the diligent is made fat (rich with earthly things, as well as spiritual).

v 5…A righteous man (tzadik) hates falsehood (lying), but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully (spreads an odor in the nostrils of the righteous).

v 6…Righteousness (tzedekah) guards the one whose way is blameless (one who keeps the commandments-Psa 84.9, 119.114; Prov 30.5-6; Song 8.2), but wickedness subverts (overthrows) the sinner.

v 7…There is one who pretends to be rich but has nothing (his show of wealth is a pretense to impress others), another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth (makes no show of his wealth so that others don’t ask for money or cause robbers to come).

v 8…The ransom of a man’s life is his riches (an advantage, can redeem himself from problems), but the poor hears no rebuke (nobody notices him because there is nothing to get from him).

v 9…The light of the righteous rejoices (their lifestyle shines brightly), but the lamp of the wicked goes out (put out by God’s judgment, causing darkness).

v 10…Through presumption (pride) comes nothing but strife (self-focus generates contention), but with those who receive counsel is wisdom (they are well-advised).

v 11…Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles (because their habits waste their wealth, and God’s blessing is not on those who get it by fraud and deceit), but the one who gathers by labor increases it (Yehovah blesses them and their lifestyle, they do not waste it).

v 12…Hope deferred (put off, postponed) makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled (realized) is a tree of life (living, fresh, has vitality).

v 13…The one who despises the word (Torah) will be destroyed, but the one who fears (has a reverence for) the commandment (mitzvah) will be rewarded (blessed in this life and in the Olam Haba).

v 14…The teaching (Hebrew “Torah”) of the wise is a fountain of life (a continuing source of living water-John 7.17, 38), to turn aside from the snares of death (there is only one fountain of life, and many snares of the devil-Jer 17.13; 2 Tim 2.24).

v 15…Good understanding produces favor (are welcome among others), but the way of the treacherous is hard (unpleasant to themselves and others).

v 16…Every prudent man acts with knowledge (he is cautious, considers people, place, and time, and does not act without information), but a fool displays (speaks out) folly (exposes it to everyone).

v 17…A wicked messenger falls into adversity (his errand fails, loses his master’s favor), but a faithful envoy brings healing (performs well, profitable to the message. The word “envoy” means “hinge” meaning his negotiations are the hinge for what happens at home).

v 18…Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline (chastisement), but he who regards reproof will be honored.

v 19…Desire realized is sweet to the soul (gratifying), but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil (because they desire wickedness and it is offensive to consider otherwise).

v 20…He who walks with wise men will be wise (listens to their counsel), but the companions of fools will suffer harm (they chose companions that proved they were foolish and will share their destiny).

v 21…Adversity pursues sinners (their punishment), but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity (reap what they have sowed-Gal 6.7).

v 22… A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children (God’s blessing extends to his grandchildren), and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (the righteous will obtain what the sinner wastes).

v 23…Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor (who works the land and knows what kind of harvest he can have), but it is swept away by injustice (or lack of discretion and wisdom. He mismanages the land and does not do what is right).

v 24…He who spares his rod hates his son (he will not discipline his children, he feels he is avoiding out of compassion but they are wrong. The harm can be great and it can be said he hates his children because of the damage it caused), but he who loves him (his children) disciplines (chastises) him diligently (or “in the morning” meaning before any bad habits can develop).

v 25…The righteous (tzadik) has enough (eats) to satisfy his appetite (he is blessed with sufficient food), but the stomach of the wicked is in want (their lifestyle creates necessity).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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