The direction of your life is shaped by the voice you follow.
Key Verse:
“Whoever walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” —Proverbs 13:20 NASB
Background Context:
Proverbs 13 is a chapter filled with practical contrasts between wisdom and foolishness, righteousness and wickedness, diligence and laziness. Solomon emphasizes the long-term consequences of choices—how our words, discipline, finances, and companions all shape the course of our lives. While brief in style, the chapter is weighty in its message: wisdom isn’t an accident—it’s a path, chosen step by step.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5A righteous man hates falsehood,
But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the sinner.
7There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
8The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
9The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10Through insolence comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.
15Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.
16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
But a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,
But he who regards reproof will be honored.
19Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21Adversity pursues sinners,
But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But it is swept away by injustice.
24He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the wicked is in need.
Reflection on Proverbs 13:
Proverbs 13:20 is a powerful reminder that wisdom is not just something we acquire intellectually—it’s something we catch through proximity. Who you walk with influences who you become.
Surrounding yourself with wise, godly people helps sharpen your own thinking, deepen your convictions, and steer your life toward righteousness. In contrast, walking with fools isn’t neutral—it brings harm. Bad company doesn’t just slow your growth—it damages your path.
This chapter also highlights the fruit of discipline and diligence. “The soul of the diligent is made fat” (v.4), and “A righteous man hates lies” (v.5). Wisdom isn’t about cleverness—it’s about character, integrity, and persistence. It’s about sowing today what will produce fruit tomorrow.
And ultimately, Proverbs 13 reminds us of the generational impact of wisdom: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (v.22). Wisdom thinks beyond the moment—it invests in a legacy.
Application:
Take a look at the voices you allow into your life. Are you walking with the wise—or keeping close company with those who are careless with truth, lazy with their lives, or hardened to God’s ways? Choose your influences carefully. Choose friends, mentors, and content that challenge you to grow in godliness.
And be diligent in your walk. Wisdom comes one step at a time—through discipline, humility, and reverence for the Lord.
Closing Prayer:
Father, help me walk with the wise and turn away from foolish paths. Give me discernment in the relationships I build and the voices I follow. Make me someone who reflects Your wisdom, speaks truth, and sows righteousness for future generations. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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