Proverbs 13:12–19

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^13:12Hope³⁹ deferred⁴⁰ makes the heart sick,⁴¹

but a longing fulfilled⁴² is like⁴³ a tree of life.

^13:13The one who despises instruction⁴⁴ will pay the penalty,⁴⁵

but whoever esteems instruction⁴⁶ will⁴⁷ be rewarded.⁴⁸

^13:14Instruction⁴⁹ from the wise⁵⁰ is like⁵¹ a life-giving fountain,⁵²

to turn⁵³ a person⁵⁴ from deadly snares.⁵⁵

^13:15Keen insight⁵⁶ wins⁵⁷ favor,

but the conduct⁵⁸ of the unfaithful is harsh.⁵⁹

^13:16Every shrewd⁶⁰ person acts with knowledge,

but a fool displays⁶¹ his folly.

^13:17An unreliable⁶² messenger falls⁶³ into trouble,⁶⁴

but a faithful envoy⁶⁵ brings⁶⁶ healing.

^13:18The one who neglects⁶⁷ discipline ends up in⁶⁸ poverty and shame,

but the one who accepts reproof is honored.⁶⁹

^13:19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but fools abhor⁷⁰ turning away from evil.

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Footnotes

39 The word “hope” (תּוֹחֶלֶת [tokhelet] from יָחַל [yakhal]) also has the implication of a tense if not anxious wait.
40 The verb is the Pual participle from מָשַׁךְ (mashakh,“to draw; to drag”).
41 Failure in realizing one’s hopes can be depressing or discouraging. People can bear frustration only so long (W. G. Plaut, Proverbs, 153).
42 Heb “a desire that comes”; cf. “a wish that comes true.”
43 The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.
44 Heb “the word.” The term “word” means teaching in general; its parallel “command” indicates that it is the more forceful instruction that is meant. Both of these terms are used for scripture.
45 The reads יֵחָבֶל (yekhavel, “he will pay [for it]”; cf. , ) but the editors suggest revocalizing the text to יְחֻבָּל (yékhubal, “he will be broken [for it]”; cf. “bring destruction on themselves”). Heb “will be pledged to it.” The Niphal of I חָבַל (khaval) “to pledge” means “to be under pledge to pay the penalty” ( 286 Niph). Whoever despises teaching will be treated as a debtor—he will pay for it if he offends against the law.
46 Heb “fears a commandment”; “respects a command.”
47 Heb “he” or “that one” [will be rewarded].
48 The adds: “A crafty son will have no good thing, but the affairs of a wise servant will be prosperous; and his path will be directed rightly.”
49 The term תוֹרָה (torah) in legal literature means “law,” but in wisdom literature often means “instruction; teaching” ( 435 ); cf. NAV, , “teaching”; “advice.”
50 Heb “instruction of the wise.” The term חָכָם (khakham, “the wise”) is a genitive of source.
51 The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.
52 Heb “fountain of life” (so , , , ). The genitive חַיִּים (khayyim) functions as a genitive of material, similar to the expression “fountain of water.” The metaphor means that the teaching of the wise is life-giving. The second colon is the consequence of the first, explaining this metaphor.
53 The infinitive construct with preposition לְ (lamed) gives the result (or, purpose) of the first statement. It could also be taken epexegetically, “by turning.”
54 The term “person” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
55 Heb “snares of death” (so , , , , , ). The genitive מָוֶת (mavet) functions as an attributive adjective. The term “snares” makes an implied comparison with hunting; death is like a hunter. W. McKane compares the idea to the Ugaritic god Mot, the god of death, carrying people off to the realm of the departed (Proverbs [], 455). The expression could also mean that the snares lead to death.
56 Heb “good insight.” The expression שֵׂכֶל־טוֹב (sekhel-tov) describes a person who has good sense, sound judgment, or wise opinions ( 968 שֵׂכֶל).
57 Heb “gives”; “produces.”
58 Heb “way,” frequently for conduct, behavior, or lifestyle.
59 The reads אֵיתָן (’etan, “enduring; permanent; perennial”; 450 יתן 1). Several scholars suggest that the text here is corrupt and the reading should be “harsh; hard; firm; rugged” ( 450 2). G. R. Driver suggested that לֹא (lo’, “not”) was dropped before the word by haplography and so the meaning would have been not “enduring” but “passing away” (“Problems in the Hebrew Text of Proverbs,” 32 [1951]: 181). The , , and reflect a Hebrew of תֹאבֵד (to’ved) “are destroyed.” The editors suggest emending the text to אֵידָם (’edam) “their calamity” from אֵיד (’ed, “calamity, distress”; 15 ): “the way of the faithless [leads to] their calamity.” The idea of “harsh” or “hard” could also be drawn from a meaning of the word in the meaning “firm,” that is, enduring.
60 The shrewd person knows the circumstances, dangers and pitfalls that lie ahead. So he deals with them wisely. This makes him cautious.
61 Heb “spreads open” [his folly]. W. McKane suggests that this is a figure of a peddler displaying his wares (Proverbs [], 456; cf. “the fool peddles folly”). If given a chance, a fool will reveal his foolishness in public. But the wise study the facts and make decisions accordingly.
62 Heb “bad.”
63 The changes this to a Hiphil to read, “plunges [men] into trouble.” But the text simply says the wicked messenger “falls into trouble,” perhaps referring to punishment for his bad service.
64 Or “evil.”
65 Heb “an envoy of faithfulness.” The genitive אֱמוּנִים (’emunim, “faithfulness”) functions as an attributive adjective: “faithful envoy.” The plural form אמונים (literally, “faithfulnesses”) is characteristic of abstract nouns. The term “envoy” (צִיר, tsir) suggests that the person is in some kind of government service (e.g., Isa 18:2; Jer 49:14; cf. , “ambassador”). This individual can be trusted to “bring healing”—be successful in the mission. The wisdom literature of the ancient Near East has much to say about messengers.
66 The verb “brings” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.
67 The verb III פָּרַע (para’) normally means “to let go; to let alone” and here “to neglect; to avoid; to reject” ( 828 ).
68 The phrase “ends up in” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.
69 Honor and success are contrasted with poverty and shame; the key to enjoying the one and escaping the other is discipline and correction. W. McKane, Proverbs (), 456, notes that it is a difference between a man of weight (power and wealth, from the idea of “heavy” for “honor”) and the man of straw (lowly esteemed and poor).
70 Heb “an abomination of fools.” The noun כְּסִילִים (késilim, “fools”) functions as a subjective genitive: “fools hate to turn away from evil” (cf. , , ). T. T. Perowne says: “In spite of the sweetness of good desires accomplished, fools will not forsake evil to attain it” (Proverbs, ). Cf. Prov 13:12; 29:27.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

but a fool flaunts his folly.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,

but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

turning a person from the snares of death.

Good judgment wins favor,

but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

All who are prudent act with knowledge,

but fools expose their folly.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,

but whoever heeds correction is honored.

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but fools detest turning from evil.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Hope delayed makes the heart sick,

but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,

but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life,

turning people away from the snares of death.

Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous never changes.

Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,

but a fool displays his stupidity.

A wicked envoy falls into trouble,

but a trustworthy courier brings healing.

Poverty and disgrace come to those

who ignore discipline,

but the one who accepts correction will be honored.

Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,

but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.

NLTNew Living Translation

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

People who despise advice are asking for trouble;

those who respect a command will succeed.

The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;

those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

A person with good sense is respected;

a treacherous person is headed for destruction.

Wise people think before they act;

fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,

but a reliable messenger brings healing.

If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;

if you accept correction, you will be honored.

It is pleasant to see dreams come true,

but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Hope that is deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

He who despises a word will bring destruction on himself,

but he who respects a commandment will be rewarded.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

in order to avoid the snares of death.

Good sense grants favor,

but the way of the faithless is coarse.

Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence,

but the fool will display folly.

A messenger of wickedness will fall into trouble,

but an envoy of the faithful brings healing.

Poverty and disgrace belong to him who ignores instruction,

but he who guards reproof will be honored.

A desire fulfilled will be sweet to the soul,

but an abomination of fools is turning from evil.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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