Proverbs 13 · Verse 20

Proverbs 13:20

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Proverbs 13:20, King James Version

Proverbs 13:20 in other translations

BSBHe who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
WEBOne who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
ASVWalk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
YLTWhoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.
DARBYHe that walketh with wise men becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.
BBEGo with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
WebsterHe that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

What does Proverbs 13:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. The benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 He 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company. And all that make themselves wicked will be destroyed.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 13:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הוֹלֵ֣ךְha.lokh[one who] walksH1980
אֶת\־'et-withH854
חֲכָמִ֣יםcha.kha.Mimwise [people]H2450
יֶחְכָּ֑םva.cha.khamhe will become wiseH2449
וְרֹעֶ֖הve.ro.'Ehand [one who] associates withH7462
כְסִילִ֣יםkhe.si.LimfoolsH3684
יֵרֽוֹעַ\׃ye.Ro.a'he will be harmedH7489

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 13:20

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

    Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

  • Proverbs 15:31

    The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

  • Proverbs 9:6

    Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

    Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, …

  • Psalms 119:63

    I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

  • Revelation 18:4

    And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

  • Proverbs 1:11-19

    If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: …

  • Hebrews 10:24

    And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

  • Proverbs 7:22-23

    He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

  • Acts 2:42

    And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

  • 1 Kings 12:8

    But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
2:20; Ps 119:63; So 1:7,8; Mal 3:16; Ac 2:42; Heb 10:24
but.
1:11-19; 2:12-19; 7:22,23,27; 9:6; Ge 13:12,13; 14:12; 1Ki 12:8,10
1Ki 22:4,32; 2Ch 19:2; 1Co 15:33,34; 2Co 6:14-18; Re 18:4
destroyed. Heb. broken.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 13:19

    The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

  • Proverbs 13:20

    He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

  • Proverbs 13:21

    Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Read all of Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
El que anda con los sabios, sabio será; mas el que se allega á los necios, será quebrantado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Qui marche avec les sages devient sage, mais le compagnon des sots s’en trouvera mal.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wer mit Weisen umgeht, wird weise; aber wer sich zu Toren gesellt, wird schlecht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Qui cum sapientibus graditur sapiens erit; amicus stultorum similis efficietur.