CHAPTER 13 Apr. 3 
Discipline, Instruction and Prosperity
A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke. 2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence. 3He who guards his mouth guards his soul; one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 4The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied. 5A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace. 6Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7There are some who are made rich, yet have nothing. There are some who are made poor, yet have great wealth. 8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats. 9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. 10Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom. 11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow. 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. 13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded. 14The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn others away from the snares of death. 15Good understanding wins favour; but the way of the unfaithful is hard. 16Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly. 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing. 18Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honoured. 19Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. 20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. 21Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous. 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous. 23An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away. 24One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him. 25The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry. 

Commentary

13:3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul- In this sense as Jesus put it, we will be eternally justified or eternally condemned by our words (Mt. 12:37).
13:7 This last phrase is quoted about the Lord Jesus, who made Himself poor on the cross (2 Cor. 8:9). And yet Solomon, who made himself rich, was the very anti-Christ.  These words are also part quoted in Phil. 2:7, about how on the cross, the Lord Jesus made himself poor, of no reputation, and now has been so highly exalted. Our living out of the Lord’s cross is shown in our making of ourselves poor, in whatever sense. That is surely the unmistakable teaching of this allusion.
13:14 We have it within our power to disentangle people from the snare of eternal death. And we do this by teaching them. See on 14:27.
13:16 A fool exposes folly- The fact something is wrong or foolish doesn’t mean that we should therefore always expose it. The way of wisdom is to decide when to speak and when to be silent.
13:19 Longing fulfilled- The opposite of this is to “detest turning from evil”. The “longing” is therefore for spiritual growth, for victory against sin. And this is what is the sweetest thing in spiritual experience.