Proverbs · 25 verses
Proverbs 13
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
A sinner’s wealth may end up in the hands of the righteous, while a good man is busy leaving an inheritance to children’s children—a curious rearrangement of the family chest.
Mouths, money, and appearancesvv. 1–11
The chapter begins with a family distinction: the wise son listens, while the mocker will not. Speech is treated as a small door with a large draft behind it; guarded lips protect life, open lips invite ruin. Then come two figures dressed in opposite disguises—one parading wealth without a penny, another claiming poverty while possessing plenty. Riches can ransom a life, though poverty has the strangely peaceful distinction of hearing no threat. Even wealth itself is put on trial: dishonest gain dwindles, while hard-earned increase multiplies.
The long wait and the fountainvv. 12–19
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life: the chapter allows both the ache and the feast into the same sentence. Instruction, wise teaching, good understanding, prudent action, and faithful messages form a little procession away from trouble. The wicked messenger falls into it; the faithful envoy brings healing. Desire fulfilled is sweet, but turning from evil is detestable to fools, who are remarkably committed to the wrong side of sweetness.
Company, inheritance, and suppervv. 20–25
The final movement turns from individual habits to their company and consequences. Walking with the wise makes a person wise; keeping company with fools ends badly. Disaster pursues sinners, while prosperity rewards the righteous, and the chapter’s inheritance takes an unexpected route: the good man’s wealth travels down the generations, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the righteous. Even a poor person’s fallow ground may hold abundant food, unless injustice sweeps it away. The closing contrast is wonderfully domestic: diligent discipline, a full righteous stomach, and an empty one on the other side.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Prov 13:1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
Prov 13:2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
Prov 13:3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
Prov 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
Prov 13:5The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
Prov 13:6Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.
Prov 13:7One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Prov 13:8Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
Prov 13:9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
Prov 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
Prov 13:11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
Prov 13:12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Prov 13:13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
Prov 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
Prov 13:15Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.
Prov 13:16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Prov 13:17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
Prov 13:18Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
Prov 13:19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
Prov 13:20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Prov 13:21Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
Prov 13:22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
Prov 13:23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
Prov 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Prov 13:25A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 319 passages were voted onto 25 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 201 Corinthians 15:33–34Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- 22Ecclesiastes 2:26To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- 20Proverbs 15:31He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
- 20Proverbs 9:6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
- 3Proverbs 21:23He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
- 202 Corinthians 6:14–18Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
- 22Job 27:16–17Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
- 22Proverbs 28:8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
- 3Proverbs 18:21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
- 3Proverbs 18:7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
- 20Psalms 119:63I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
- 22Psalms 37:25I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.
- 3James 3:2–12We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
- 20Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
- 22Psalms 112:2His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
- 24Proverbs 29:17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
Onward