Proverbs 17:13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:13

A malicious mischievous man is here represented, 1. As ungrateful to his friends. He oftentimes is so absurd and insensible of kindnesses done him that he renders evil for good. David met with those that were his adversaries for his love, Ps. 109:4. To render evil for evil is brutish, but to render evil for good is devilish. He is an ill-natured man who, because he is resolved not to return a kindness, will revenge it. 2. As therein unkind to his family, for he entails a curse upon it. This is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:13

Whoso rewardeth evil for good ,.... As the enemies of David and Christ rewarded them, Psalm 35:12 ; this is base ingratitude, contrary to the law and light of nature; worse than beastly, is really devilish; evil shall not depart from his house ; from him and his family; they shall be continually visited with one disease and calamity or another; so hateful and offensive is the sin of ingratitude to God, and therefore ought to be carefully avoided. This might be illustrated by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 17:13

Whoso rewardeth evil for good - Here is a most awful warning. As many persons are guilty of the sin of ingratitude, and of paying kindness with unkindness, and good with evil, it is no wonder we find so much wretchedness among men; for God's word cannot fail; evil shall not depart from the houses and families of such persons. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:6-25

Fatherhood and sonship Certainly, some of our very greatest mercies are those that come to us in our domestic relationships. I. THE JOY AND CROWN OF FATHERHOOD AND OF GRANDFATHERHOOD . Our Lord speaks of the mother forgetting her anguish "for joy that a man is born into the world" ( John 16:21 ). The joy of parentage is keen , and it is common; it may, indeed, be said to be universal. And it is pure and good; it elevates and enlarges the soul, taking thought... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:10-15

Dark phases of human character We may take Proverbs 17:10 as an introduction to what follows. Exhortations are to be given, and the preacher would prepare us to receive them. On the sensitive mind the censure of the good makes a deeper impression than a hundred blows on the back of the fool. Sincerity, love of truth and tender sympathy, become the exhorter, and humble docility the object of his warnings or rebukes. "Let the righteous smite me, and it shall be a kindness" ( Psalms 141:5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:13

Whoso rewardeth evil for good. This was David's complaint of the churlish Nabal ( 1 Samuel 25:21 ). Ingratitude shall surely he punished. Evil shall not depart from his house . Terribly has the ingratitude of the Jews been visited. They cried in their madness, "His blood be on us and on our children!" and their punishment is still going on. Injunctions on this subject are frequent in the New Testament (see Matthew 5:39 ; Romans 12:17 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:15 ; 1 Peter 3:9 ). The... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-28

Friends and fools (17:1-28)A peaceful family life, no matter how simple, is a great blessing, but a son may miss out on his family inheritance through his own folly (17:1-2). God’s dealings with his people are always for a good purpose, to make them better than they were before (3). To listen to evil talk is as bad as to speak evil oneself; to take pleasure in another’s troubles is as bad as to cause those troubles (4-5).Other proverbs concern the appreciation that the old and the young should... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:13

"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.""If a man repays evil for good, evil will never quit his house."[21] This warning frequently expressed in Proverbs simply means, "You reap what you sow,"[22] a principle strongly reiterated in the New Testament (Galatians 6:7-8). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown