John Gill Commentary Proverbs 13:13

"Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded." — Proverbs 13:13 (ASV)

Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed
The word of God. Either Christ, the essential Word; which is a great evil, considering the dignity of his person; great ingratitude, considering the grace of his office; very dangerous, considering what a quick, sharp, and powerful Word he is: and such may be said to despise him who despise his ministers, and the Gospel preached by them; and which may be meant by the word, that being the word of God and of truth, the word of righteousness, peace, life, and salvation; and is to them that perish foolishness; and those to whom it is so shall perish, and be punished with everlasting destruction, for their contempt of it, and disobedience to it. Or the written word may be meant, the Scriptures, which are given by inspiration of God, and therefore should be held in the greatest reverence; and yet are greatly slighted and despised by the man of sin and his followers; who set up and prefer their unwritten traditions to them, and so make them of none effect: such are all false teachers, that despise or abuse them, they bring destruction to themselves, or, as the words may be rendered, "shall receive detriment from it": so the Targum, from the word itself; the Syriac version, "by it"; and the Arabic version, "by the commandment itself"; by the threatenings in it, and according to them: or, "because of it"; because of the contempt of it.

but he who fears the commandment ;
receives the word with reverence, trembles at it; fears God, and keeps his commandments, and fears to break them: he shall be rewarded ;
with good, as the Targum adds; for in keeping the commandments of God there is great reward: or, "shall enjoy peace", or "be in safety" ^F11 ; for great peace have they which love the law of God, and serve it: or, "shall be sound and in health" ^F12 ; when those that despise it "shall be corrupted" ^F13 ; as the word in the preceding clause may be rendered.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F11: (Mlvy) "in pace versabitur", V. L. "fruetur pace", Vatablus; "donatur pace", Junius & Tremellius; "pacabitur", Cocceius; "salvabitur", Syriac version.
• F12: (ugiainei) , Sept.
• F13: (lbxy) "corrumpetur"; Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius.