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Proverbs 28:13

28:12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. hidden: or, sought for
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

KJV

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He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.

28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

What does Proverbs 28:13 mean?

Proverbs 28:13 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include כָּסָה (kâçâh), פֶּשַׁע (peshaʻ), צָלַח (tsâlach). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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He
that
coverethכָּסָהkâçâh/kaw-saw'/H3680properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
his
sinsפֶּשַׁעpeshaʻ/peh'-shah/H6588a revolt (national, moral or religious)
shall
not
prosper:צָלַחtsâlach/tsaw-lakh'/H6743to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
but
whoso
confessethיָדָהyâdâh/yaw-daw'/H3034physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)
and
forsakethעָזַבʻâzab/aw-zab'/H5800to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.
them
shall
have
mercy.רָחַםrâcham/raw-kham'/H7355to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate

Commentary on Proverbs 28:13

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 28:13
rs: He that thus covers his sins shall not prosper, let him never expect it. He shall not succeed in his endeavour to cover his sin, for it will be discovered, sooner or later. There is nothing hid which shall not be revealed. A bird of the air shall carry the voice. Murder will out, and so will other sins. He shall not prosper, that is, he shall not obtain the pardon of his sin, nor can he have any true peace of conscience. David owns himself to have been in a constant agitation while he covered his sins, Ps. xxxii. 3, 4 . While the patient conceals his distemper he cannot expect a cure. 2. The benefit of parting with it, both by a penitent confession and a universal reformation: He that confesses his guilt to God, and is careful not to return to sin again, shall find mercy with God, and shall have the comfort of it in his own bosom. His conscience shall be eased and his ruin prevented. See 1 John i. 9 ; Jer. iii. 12, 13 . When we set sin before our face (as David, My sin is ever before me ) God casts it behind his back. 14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. Here is, 1. The benefit of a holy caution. It sounds strangely, but it is very true: Happy is the man that feareth always. Most people think that those

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 12:14

And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Genesis 20:1

And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

Genesis 26:14

For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. servants: or, husbandry

Genesis 31:24

And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. either: Heb. from good to bad

Genesis 35:5

And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

Exodus 7:16

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

Exodus 7:17

Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

Topics

ImpenitenceMercy of God, thePrayerRepentanceSelf-RighteousnessSinWicked

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 28:13.

1 Kings 8:50

And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

Leviticus 16:21

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: a fit: Heb. a man of opportunity

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 28:13 say?

Proverbs 28:13 (King James Version) reads: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Is Proverbs 28:13 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 28:13 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 28:13, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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