Proverbs 13:20

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. HE THAT WALKETH (NAMELY, CONTINUOUSLY AND HABITUALLY) WITH WISE MEN SHALL BE WISE. So the Masoretic text reads [ howleek (H1980) ... yechªkaam (H2449)]. But the Kethibh, or Hebrew text, reads imperatively, 'Walk ... be wise' [haalowk ... yechªkaam, the infinitive absolute, for the imperative]. BUT A COMPANION OF FOOLS SHALL BE DESTROYED. 'But one associating himself with and taking pleasure in [ ro`eh (H7462)] fools.' Compare Proverbs 28:7, margin (the literal meaning of the Hebrew verb...

Verse Proverbs 13:20. _HE THAT WALKETH WITH WISE_ MEN _SHALL BE WISE_] To _walk_ with a person implies _love_ and _attachment_; and it is impossible not _to imitate those we love_. So we say, "Show me his company, and I'll tell you the man." Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess his moral character....

EXPOSITION VERSE 13:1-15:19 Second section in this collection. PROVERBS 13:1 A WISE SON HEARETH HIS FATHER'S INSTRUCTION. The Authorized Version introduces the verb from the second member. The Hebrew is elliptical, "A wise son, his father's discipline," _i.e._ is the object or the result of his father's education; he owes his wisdom to it. Septuagint, "A clever (πανοῦργος) son is obedient to his father." BUT A SCORNER (Proverbs 1:22) HEARETH NOT REBUKE; one who mocks at goodness and despises filial piety will not listen to reproof. Septuagint, "A disobedient son is in destruction." Compare the case of Eli's sons, and their fate ...

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" t; ruined and destroyed, "evil communications corrupt good manners", 1 Corinthians 15:33,

CHAPTER 13 THE CONTRAST: ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE The contrast in Proverbs concerning the righteous and the wicked is continued in this chapter, showing mostly the advantage of the righteous, illustrating a statement found in the prophet Isaiah: “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings” Isaiah 3:10). Then the contrast: “Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him” Proverbs 13:11). The righteous eats good by the fruit of his mouth; the transgressor receives violence. There is fatness for the soul of the diligent and nothing for the soul of the sluggard. Righteousness keepeth; wickedness overthrows. While the light of the righteous rejoiceth, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. These a

PROVERBS 13. This chapter has little that is fresh and no new groups of proverbs. We have a well-known reference to the weariness of waiting for a hope that comes not (Proverbs 13:12 and Proverbs 13:19 a). There is a new proverb relating to the faithfulness of messengers, perhaps with reference to diplomatic missions. PROVERBS 13:5. IS LOATHSOME: render behaves vilely. Proverbs 13:7. Both AV and RV obscure the point of the aphorism, which contrasts two equally obnoxious social shams. Translate, There are poor people who pretend to be rich, and there are rich people who feign they are poor....

SHALL BE WISE. Illustrations: Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:5); Joash (2 Chronicles 24:2); Ruth (Proverbs 1:16); Elisha (2 Kings 2:9); Andrew (John 1:40; John 1:41); Nathanael (John 1:45). A COMPANION, &C.: or he that feedeth (or entertaineth) fools shall be bankrupt. SHALL BE DESTROYED. shall be broken....

_He that walketh_ Or (with a change of Heb. vowel points), _Walk with wise men and be wise_. _destroyed_ Lit. BE BROKEN. See Proverbs 11:15, where the same word is rendered _shall smart for it_. He who is the companion of fools in friendship shall become their companion in destruction. Comp. Proverbs 1:10; Proverbs 1:18....

TEXT Proverbs 13:18-25 18. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored. 19. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20. Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it. 21. Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good. 22. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous. 23. Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice. 24. He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 25. The righteous eateth

13:20 depraved. (h-17) Or 'shall smart for it.'...