Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
A wise son accepts his father's discipline, but a mocker doesn't listen to correction.
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
You'll be rewarded for saying good things, but dishonest people want violence.
3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
Watch what you say and save your life—saying too much leads to disaster.
4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
Lazy people want a lot, but get nothing; if you work hard you'll be well rewarded.
5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
Good people hate lies, but the wicked cause a stink and bring disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.
Goodness protects those who live right, but sin overcomes the wicked.
7 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Some pretend to be rich, but don't have anything, while others pretend to be poor and are very rich.
8 Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
The rich can pay a ransom to save their lives, but the poor aren't troubled in this way.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
The life of good people shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
Pride only causes conflict; but those who take advice are wise.
11 Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
Wealth gained by fraud quickly disappears, but those who gather bit by bit prosper.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Hope that's delayed makes you feel sick, but a wish that comes true revives you.
13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
If you despise words of advice, you'll pay for it; but if you respect what you're told, you'll be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
The teaching of the wise is like a fountain of life, so you can avoid the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.
Good sense earns appreciation, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
All wise people act intelligently, but stupid people demonstrate their stupidity.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
A bad messenger creates trouble, but a faithful representative brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore instruction, but those who accept correction are honored.
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
It's nice to see a wish come true, but stupid people hate to turn away from evil to achieve this.
20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Being friends with wise people will make you wise, but being friends with stupid people will only cause you problems.
21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
Tragedy chases after the sinner, but prosperity rewards the good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner's wealth is saved for those who live right.
23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
The unploughed ground of the poor could produce a lot of food, but it's stolen through injustice.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
People who don't discipline their children hate them. Those who love their children carefully discipline them.
25 A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
The good eat until they're full; but the belly of the wicked is empty.
