Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 13

Verses 1-25

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.”

Proverbs 13:8 . The last words appear to have come in by dittography from Proverbs 13:1. The real point of the contrast intended appears in Proverbs 10:15— the social disadvantage of poverty— and the last words should express a similar thought.

Proverbs 13:9 . rejoiceth is hardly appropriate; read with a slight emendation “ ariseth” ( cf. Psalms 112:4). LXX reads “ is for ever.” The earlier meaning of “ light” and “ lamp” is the preservation of the family name and honour ( cf. the promise to David to give him a lamp in Jerusalem, 1 Kings 11:36, Psalms 132:17). Later it acquires a more ethical meaning, “ the path of the just is as a shining light.”

Proverbs 13:10 . The text is very uncertain. The first three letters of MT are probably repeated by scribal error from Proverbs 13:9. Omitting them we read “ presumption causes strife.” But the proverb is probably a corrupt form of Proverbs 11:2, as comparison with it suggests.

Proverbs 13:11 . The Heb. reads lit. “ Wealth from nothingness grows less, but he who gathers by hand increases.” Some change is clearly needed. The LXX gives a better sense and a suitable contrast, “ wealth got in haste” ( cf. Proverbs 20:21, Proverbs 28:22). The force of “ by hand” ( cf. mg.) is “ gradually,” not “ by labour” as the RV.

Proverbs 13:13 a is the converse of Proverbs 16:20 a.— the word: the moral law, the law of Yahweh.

Proverbs 13:15 b gives no intelligible sense, and cannot be related to Proverbs 13:15 a. Lit. it reads “ the way of the treacherous is enduring; RV “ rugged” has no justification. LXX reads, with slight change, “ is in destruction.” But the two clauses are still unrelated, and probably belong to different couplets ( cf. Sir_41:10 ).

Proverbs 13:17 . The contrast is apparently between the mischief caused by a bad or incompetent messenger and the prosperous issue of affairs conducted by a reliable envoy or ambassador. The word used for ambassador or envoy suggests rather a political sense, and the LXX has the interesting though probably erroneous rendering “ a rash king gets into trouble, but a wise ambassador will deliver him.” Read “ A false (or untrustworthy) messenger causes (his sender) to fall into trouble” ( cf. Proverbs 25:13).

Proverbs 13:19 . Another case of two unrelated lines. For Proverbs 13:19 a cf. Proverbs 13:12, and for Proverbs 13:19 b cf. Pro. 29:37.

Proverbs 13:23 . The Heb. gives no satisfactory sense or intelligible contrast. It reads lit. “ The fallow ground (as Hosea 10:12, Jeremiah 4:3) of the poor is abundance of food, and there is that is swept away by injustice.” The VSS show similar confusion. No satisfactory emendation has been proposed.