New Living Translation
Proverbs 13:20
20Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
Proverbs 13:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
- New International Version (NIV)Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Context of Proverbs 13:20
18If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. 19It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. 21Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous. 22Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.
Read all of Proverbs 13Proverbs 13:20 word by word
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ אֶת־חֲכָמִ֣ים יֶחְכָּ֑ם וְרֹעֶ֖ה כְסִילִ֣ים יֵרֽוֹעַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 13:20
- Proverbs 2:20So follow the steps of the good, and stay on the paths of the righteous.
- Psalms 119:63I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments.
- Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
- Acts 2:42All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
- Hebrews 10:24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
- Proverbs 1:11They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
- Proverbs 2:12Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted.
- Proverbs 7:22He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap,
- Proverbs 9:6Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”
- Genesis 13:12So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.
- Genesis 14:12They also captured Lot—Abram’s nephew who lived in Sodom—and carried off everything he owned.
- 1 Kings 12:8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.
- 1 Kings 22:4Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”
- 2 Chronicles 19:2Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:14Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
Commentaries on Proverbs 13:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise - To walk with a person implies love and attachment; and it is impossible not to imitate those we love. So we say, "Show me his company, and I'll tell you the man." Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess his moral character.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company. And all that make themselves wicked will be destroyed.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The people we spend time with influence us.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. The benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 13:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 13
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries