Scripture Daily

Context No. 759 of 4322 · Proverbs

Context · Reflection

Proverbs 13:1-16: in context

1A 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 pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be 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 wisdom is with people who take advice. 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 from the snares of death. 15Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. 16Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Proverbs 13 is a string of one-line observations set side by side, the way this book collects them: the wise son heeds correction, the guarded mouth keeps its owner out of ruin, the lazy crave and get nothing while the diligent are filled, pride breeds quarrels while the humble take advice. You could dwell on any of them. But one line in the middle catches at something everyone knows and few say out loud. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, it says, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

What is striking is that the proverb does not scold the sickness. It does not tell you to buck up, or that a strong person would not feel it. It simply names, as a plain fact about how people are made, that hope stretched out too long genuinely wounds you; the waiting itself makes the heart ill. There is a real ache in wanting something good for a long time and not receiving it, and this book of wisdom calls it what it is, a sickness, not a weakness to be ashamed of. And it holds out the other half honestly too: when the longing is finally met, it is like a tree of life, health running back into everything.

Proverbs calls a long-deferred hope a sickness of the heart, and does not shame it. What hope have I carried so long that it has made me heartsick, and have I let myself name it honestly instead of scolding myself for feeling it?

Sources