Proverbs 13:13

The one who despises instruction ¹  will pay the penalty, ²  but whoever esteems instruction ³  will ⁴  be rewarded. ⁵ 

He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

People who despise advice will find themselves in trouble; those who respect it will succeed.

Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.

He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.

Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves, but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

The one who despises instruction ¹  will pay the penalty, ²  but whoever esteems instruction ³  will ⁴  be rewarded. ⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “the word.” The term “word” means teaching in general; its parallel “command” indicates that it is the more forceful instruction that is meant. Both of these terms are used for scripture.

² tc The MT reads יֵחָבֶל (yekhavel, “he will pay [for it]”; cf. NAB, NIV) but the BHS editors suggest revocalizing the text to יְחֻבָּל (yÿkhubal, “he will be broken [for it]”; cf. NRSV “bring destruction on themselves”).

tn Heb “will be pledged to it.” The Niphal of I חָבַל (khaval) “to pledge” means “to be under pledge to pay the penalty” (BDB 286 s.v. Niph). Whoever despises teaching will be treated as a debtor – he will pay for it if he offends against the law.

³ tn Heb “fears a commandment”; NIV “respects a command.”

⁴ tn Heb “he” or “that one” [will be rewarded].

⁵ tc The LXX adds: “A crafty son will have no good thing, but the affairs of a wise servant will be prosperous; and his path will be directed rightly.”