The Importance of Avoiding Bad and Choosing Good Company
Proverbs 13:20
He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.


I. WHAT MAY BE MEANT BY WISE MEN AND FOOLS. Not learned men and illiterate men. A wise man is one who proposes to himself the most valuable ends, and pursues them by the best means. A fool is one who either has no worthy ends in view, or does not pursue them by proper means. The prudent is the wise man. The inconsiderate is the fool. The wise man is the true believer and holy soul; and the fool is the impenitent sinner, who rejects Christ and His salvation.

II. WHAT IS IT TO WALK WITH WISE MEN OR FOOLS?

1. It is to love and choose their company.

2. To seek and frequent their company.

3. To make them our intimate friends, and to fall in with them.

III. THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF WALKING WITH WISE MEN OR FOOLS. As to walking with wise men —

1. It is a great part of wisdom to choose such.

2. It is a means of growing wiser.

3. He who really is the companion of the wise will certainly himself be wise.As to walking with fools —

1. The companions of fools walk in the way which leads to destruction.

2. They are continually in the utmost danger of destruction.

3. If they continue they shall certainly be destroyed, with them, for ever and ever.

(John Guyse, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

WEB: One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.




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