Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Good sense wins favour,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honoured.Proverbs 13:12-18
The sentiment expressed in 12 is of wide application, whether in normal human relationships or in the spiritual sense. But the 'sickness' referred to need not mean black discouragement or despair (though it carries an ache with it) if we recognise that in God's dealings with us there is an appointed time for fulfillment, His delays are not denials; the husbandman is to have long patience as he waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and these who 'wait for the consolation of Israel' will at the last enter into peace and joy (Luke 2:25,29). The 'word' in 13 may refer in general to 'instruction' in the sense in which it has been used throughout the book, but by implication this means also the Word of God for, of course, it is the divine counsel that this father is passing on to his son. The 'reward' of fearing the Word, and reverencing it, far from being a cramping effect on experience, proves to be a fountain of life (14). Refreshment - and safe guidance too (14b). It is the other road that is the dangerous one. This is underlined in 15b, whether we take the AV rendering or the RSV, which reads 'the way of the faithless is their ruin'. One can never be sure when that particular path will crumble underfoot. For the thought in 16 see 12:23 (and Note), and 15:2. If a man is prudent, everything he does will show the mark of prudence; if not, his foolishness will be seen every day of the week. In 17 the RSV rendering should be followed, 'a bad messenger plunges men into trouble'. The application of this to ordinary daily life is obvious, but it has a particularly pointed thrust when applied to messengers of the Word. If a man preaches a false or defective word he will lead many astray, even his doubts will communicate themselves to others. A faithful ambassador, on the other hand, brings healing. Given someone who is faithful to God's Word, there will be a health-giving virtue around. For the thought in 18, see 1:20-33 and Notes!