Christianity

Proverbs 13Hope Deferred

Summary

Proverbs 13 covers diligence, honesty and the company one keeps. A wise son listens to his father, guarding his mouth guards his life, and the sluggard craves but gets nothing. Wealth gotten by vanity dwindles, while what is gathered by labor grows. Its best-known saying is psychological: hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. The one who walks with the wise becomes wise, a good man leaves an inheritance for grandchildren, and loving parents discipline their children.

Key verse

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 13:12

Themes

Hope and Longing
Companions
Steady Work
Discipline

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

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

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Judaism
Pirkei Avot 1: Sit in the Dust of Their Feet
Mishnah Avot 1:4 advises letting one's house be a meeting place for sages and sitting in the dust of their feet, a rabbinic application of Proverbs 13:20 on walking with the wise.
Christianity
Ephesians 6: Provoke Not Your Children
Ephesians 6:4 tells fathers not to provoke their children to wrath but to bring them up in the nurture of the Lord, a balance often read alongside Proverbs 13:24.

Questions about Proverbs 13

What does hope deferred maketh the heart sick mean?

Proverbs 13:12 observes that long-delayed hope brings discouragement, while fulfilled desire is life-giving, like a tree of life.

Is spare the rod, spoil the child in the Bible?

The exact saying is not in the Bible; it comes from later English writing. Proverbs 13:24 says he that spareth his rod hateth his son. Readers differ on whether rod means physical punishment or discipline more broadly.