Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:1 "A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke."

Proverbs 13:2 "A man shall eat good by the fruit of [his] mouth: but the soul of the transgressors [shall eat] violence."

Proverbs 13:3 "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."

Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."

A wise son will take advantage of the knowledge his own father has already accumulated and will accept instruction from his father.   A contrast between the people who live good wholesome lives and those who live worldly lives.  Many times the best thing to do is to just not say anything!!  

Proverbs 13:5 "A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame."

Proverbs 13:6 "Righteousness keepeth [him that is] upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner."

Proverbs 13:7 "There is that maketh himself rich, yet [hath] nothing: [there is] that maketh himself poor, yet [hath] great riches."

This "righteous man" (in right standing with God) is against all evil actions. Lying, cheating, stealing, and dealing falsely are all pretty well associated. Usually if a person does one of these, he does all of these. People who are living for God despise all of these.      

Proverbs 13:9 "The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out."

Proverbs 13:10 "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom."

Proverbs 13:11 "Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."

Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life."

Proverbs 13:13 "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded."

Here, I see that those living upright lives love the light. They are not ashamed of the life they live. They rejoice in the Lord. The wicked are ashamed and need the cover of darkness to hide in.  The proud spurn the advice given from others while the wise accept it.  The Word of God teaches us the way to have eternal life. Without the Word there is only death facing us. Jesus is the Word of God.

The Lord is the source of this fountain, which then springs up in the wise man as wise speech and wise laws, the fear of the Lord and understanding.

Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

We have a tendency to become like the people we associate with.

Proverbs 13:22 "A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just."

The greatest heritage a grandparent can leave is to live uprightly and teach the grandchild to live uprightly. A Christian heritage is the greatest gift we can give our grandchildren. God looks kindly on the children and grandchildren of the Christians.

Proverbs 13:24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

We see in this Scripture that if we want our children to be successful in life, we must train them well when they are very young.