English Standard Version
Proverbs 28:13
13Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Proverbs 28:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
- New Living Translation (NLT)People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Context of Proverbs 28:13
11A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. 12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
Read all of Proverbs 28Proverbs 28:13 word by word
מְכַסֶּ֣ה פְ֭שָׁעָיו לֹ֣א יַצְלִ֑יחַ וּמוֹדֶ֖ה וְעֹזֵ֣ב יְרֻחָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 28:13
- Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
- Proverbs 17:9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
- Genesis 3:12The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
- Genesis 4:9Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
- 1 Samuel 15:13And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord."
- Job 31:33if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
- Psalms 32:3For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
- Jeremiah 2:22Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord God.
- Matthew 23:25"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
- Leviticus 26:40"But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me,
- 1 Kings 8:47yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,'
- Job 33:27He sings before men and says: 'I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.
- Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
- Exodus 10:16Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
- 1 Samuel 15:30Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God."
- Matthew 3:6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Commentaries on Proverbs 28:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13He that covereth his sins - Here is a general direction relative to conversion. If the sinner do not acknowledge his sins; if he cover and excuse them, and refuse to come to the light of God's word and Spirit, lest his deeds should be reproved, he shall find no salvation. God will never admit a sinful, unhumbled soul, into his kingdom. 2. But if he confess his sin, with a penitent and broken heart, and, by forsaking every evil way, give this proof that he…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13The conditions of freedom are confession and amendment, confession to God of sins against Him, to men of sins against them. The teaching of ethical wisdom on this point is identical with that of psalmist, prophet, apostles, and our Lord Himself.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 It is folly to indulge sin, and excuse it. He who covers his sins, shall not have any true peace. He who humbly confesses his sins, with true repentance and faith, shall find mercy from God. The Son of God is our great atonement. Under a deep sense of our guilt and danger, we may claim salvation from that mercy which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13Wise people admit their mistakes and wrongdoings and seek to correct them (see Psalm 32:1–5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. (Compare Psa 32:3-5). Concealment of sin delivers none from God's wrath, but He shows mercy to the humble penitent (Psa 51:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 28:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries