Proverbs 13:9
New International Version
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

New Living Translation
The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

English Standard Version
The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Berean Standard Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

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

New King James Version
The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

New American Standard Bible
The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

NASB 1995
The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

NASB 1977
The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

Legacy Standard Bible
The light of the righteous is glad, But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

Amplified Bible
The light of the righteous [within him—grows brighter and] rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked [is a temporary light and] goes out.

Christian Standard Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is put out.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is put out.

American Standard Version
The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Contemporary English Version
The lamp of a good person keeps on shining; the lamp of an evil person soon goes out.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The light of righteous people beams brightly, but the lamp of wicked people will be snuffed out.

Good News Translation
The righteous are like a light shining brightly; the wicked are like a lamp flickering out.

International Standard Version
The light of the righteous shines, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

Majority Standard Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

NET Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.

New Heart English Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Webster's Bible Translation
The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.

World English Bible
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The light of the righteous rejoices, "" And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

Young's Literal Translation
The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

Smith's Literal Translation
The light of the just shall rejoice: and the lamp of the unjust shall be quenched.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The light of the just giveth joy: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The light of the just enriches. But the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.

New American Bible
The light of the just gives joy, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.

New Revised Standard Version
The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The light of the righteous shall rejoice; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The light of the righteous will exult and the lamp of the evil will be put out.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The righteous always have light: but the light of the ungodly is quenched. Crafty souls go astray in sins: but just men pity, and are merciful.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Father's Discipline
8Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat. 9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished. 10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Ephesians 5:8-9
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

1 John 1:5-7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 37:6
He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

1 Thessalonians 5:5
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

John 12:35-36
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

Psalm 112:4
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright—for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

Isaiah 58:8
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

2 Peter 1:19
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Matthew 6:22-23
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. / But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Job 18:5-6
Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow. / The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out.


Treasury of Scripture

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

light

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

1 Kings 11:36
And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

Psalm 97:11
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

lamp

Proverbs 20:20
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Proverbs 24:20
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Job 18:5,6
Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine…

Jump to Previous
Brightly Dawn Extinguished Glad Goes Light Rejoices Rejoiceth Righteous Shines Sinner Snuffed Upright Wicked
Jump to Next
Brightly Dawn Extinguished Glad Goes Light Rejoices Rejoiceth Righteous Shines Sinner Snuffed Upright Wicked
Proverbs 13
1. a scoffer does not listen to rebuke














The light of the righteous shines brightly
This phrase emphasizes the inherent contrast between the righteous and the wicked. In biblical literature, "light" often symbolizes purity, truth, and divine presence. The righteous, those who live in accordance with God's will, are depicted as a source of illumination in a dark world. This imagery is consistent with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:14-16, where believers are called the "light of the world." The light shining brightly suggests not only visibility but also influence and guidance, reflecting the transformative power of living a life aligned with God's principles. Historically, light was a precious commodity in ancient times, often associated with safety and knowledge, further underscoring the value of righteousness.

but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished
In contrast, the "lamp" of the wicked represents a temporary and ultimately futile existence. While a lamp provides light, it is limited and requires external fuel to sustain it. The imagery of a lamp being extinguished conveys the idea of judgment and the eventual downfall of those who live in opposition to God's ways. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of the ultimate triumph of good over evil, as seen in passages like Psalm 37:20, where the wicked are compared to a vanishing smoke. The extinguishing of the lamp signifies the end of influence and the absence of divine favor, highlighting the transient nature of wickedness compared to the enduring light of the righteous.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Righteous
In the context of Proverbs, the righteous are those who live according to God's wisdom and commandments. They are characterized by their moral integrity and faithfulness to God.

2. The Wicked
This term refers to those who reject God's ways and live in opposition to His commandments. Their lives are marked by sin and moral corruption.

3. Light
Symbolically represents truth, purity, and the presence of God. In the Bible, light often signifies the guidance and favor of God.

4. Lamp
In ancient times, a lamp was a source of light in darkness. It symbolizes temporary or artificial light, which can be extinguished, unlike the enduring light of the righteous.

5. Proverbs
A book in the Old Testament, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, known for its wisdom literature that provides practical guidance for living a life pleasing to God.
Teaching Points
The Enduring Light of Righteousness
The light of the righteous is not just a temporary flicker but a bright and enduring presence. This light is fueled by a life lived in accordance with God's wisdom and truth.

The Temporary Nature of Wickedness
The lamp of the wicked, though it may seem bright for a time, is ultimately extinguished. This serves as a warning about the fleeting nature of a life lived apart from God.

Living as Light in the World
Believers are called to be a light in the world, reflecting God's truth and love in their actions and words. This involves living with integrity and purpose, guided by the Holy Spirit.

The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
Understanding the difference between the enduring light of righteousness and the temporary lamp of wickedness requires spiritual discernment. Believers must seek God's wisdom to navigate the complexities of life.(9) The light of the righteous rejoiceth--i.e., burns joyously, as the sun "rejoiceth as a giant to run his course" (Psalm 19:5). A distinction may be drawn between the "light" of the righteous and "lamp" of the wicked. The one walks in the "light" of God's truth, and so his path becomes continually more plain (see above on Proverbs 6:23); the other walks by the glimmer of his own "lamp," the "fire" and "sparks" of his own kindling (Isaiah 50:11), the fancies of his own devising, and so his end is darkness. But this distinction is not always observed (comp. Job 18:5-6, where "light" and "lamp" are both applied to the wicked.)

Verse 9. - The light of the righteous rejoiceth; laetificat, Vulgate. But the verb is intransitive, and means "burn joyfully," bright and clear, as the sun rejoices as a strong man to run a race (Psalm 19:5). This light (or) is the grace and virtue which adorn the good man's life, and which beam through all his actions with a cheerful, kindly radiance (comp. Proverbs 4:18, 19). This is a true light, kindled in his heart by God, different from the lamp (ner) of the wicked, which is devised and lighted by themselves, and has no element of permanence, but soon shall be put out (Proverbs 24:20; comp. Proverbs 20:20; Job 18:5; John 1:8; John 5:35, where the distinction between "light" and "lamp" is maintained). The lamp of the wicked is the false show of wisdom or piety, which may glimmer and deceive for a time, but is ere long detected and brought to naught. There may be here an allusion to a common custom in the East. "No house, however poor," says Dr. Geikie ('Holy Land,' 1:117), "is left without a light burning in it all night; the housewife rising betimes to secure its continuance by replenishing the lamp with oil. If a lamp goes out, it is a fatal omen" (comp. 1 Kings 15:4; Jeremiah 25:10; Revelation 18:23). Septuagint, "The light of the righteous is everlasting; but the light of sinners is quenched." Then is introduced a couplet not found in the Hebrew, of which the latter part is borrowed from Psalm 37:21 or Psalms 112:5, "Crafty souls go astray in sins; righteous men show mercy and pity." The Vulgate inserts this paragraph after ver. 13.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The light
אוֹר־ (’ō·wr-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

of the righteous
צַדִּיקִ֥ים (ṣad·dî·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

shines brightly,
יִשְׂמָ֑ח (yiś·māḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome

but the lamp
וְנֵ֖ר (wə·nêr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5216: A lamp, light

of the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֣ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

is extinguished.
יִדְעָֽךְ׃ (yiḏ·‘āḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1846: To be extinguished, to expire, be dried up


Links
Proverbs 13:9 NIV
Proverbs 13:9 NLT
Proverbs 13:9 ESV
Proverbs 13:9 NASB
Proverbs 13:9 KJV

Proverbs 13:9 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 13:9 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 13:9 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 13:9 French Bible
Proverbs 13:9 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 13:9 The light of the righteous shines brightly (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 13:8
Top of Page
Top of Page