Back to Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:9

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

  • KJV King James Version

    The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

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Cross-references (11)

Passages linked to Proverbs 13:9 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Proverbs 24:20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
  • Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
  • Proverbs 20:20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
  • Psalms 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
  • Psalms 112:4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.
  • Job 18:5-6 “Yes, the light of the wicked will be put out. The spark of his fire won’t shine. The light will be dark in his tent. His lamp above him will be put out.
  • Matthew 25:8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
  • 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for myself to put my name there.
  • Job 21:17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
  • Isaiah 50:10-11 Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves, walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: you will lie down in sorrow.
  • Job 29:3 when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (20 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but…

Pro 13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Ver. 9. The light of the righteous rejoiceth.] As the sun rejoiceth to run his race, and seemeth sometimes to suffer eclipse, but doth not. {a} A saint’s joy is as the light of the sun, fed by heavenly influence, and never extinct, but diffused through all parts of the world.

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But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.] Their joy is but as the light of a candle, - fed by base and stinking matter, soon wasting and ending in an offensive snuff. "The light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle; and his candle shall be put out with him." {Job 18:5-6} Ecquandone vidisti flammom stipula exortam claro strepitu, largo fulgore, cito incremento, sed enim materalevi, caduco incendio, nullis requiis? {b} Solomon compares it fitly to a handful of brushwood or sear thorn under the pot. {Ecc 7:6}

{a} Sol non patitur eclipsin, sed videtur tantum pati.

{b} Apuleius in Apolog.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The light; the prosperity or happiness, which is oft…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain Here is, 1. The comfort of good men flourishing…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain The light of the righteous rejoiceth,.... The light of…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain The light - The prosperity. Rejoiceth - Shines with…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 9. The light of the righteous rejoiceth] They…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 13:9. The light of the righteous rejoiceth, &c.…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Very beautiful in its poetry is the idea of…
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain Who can estimate the worth of a Christian’s bright…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Out. They are hated as well as their offspring.…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain light . . . lamp--prosperity; the first, the greater,…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 9. The light of the righteous rejoiceth — Burns…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 9. light … lamp] The change of word is…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (9) The light of the righteous rejoiceth—i.e., burns joyously,…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The light of the righteous rejoiceth; laetificat, Vulgate. But…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp…
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain Pro_13:9. Rejoiceth, “burns brightly.” The words light and lamp…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 9. The light of the righteous rejoiceth, burning…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 The light of righteous people rejoices
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 13:9 snuffed out: Cp. 20:20; 24:20.

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