Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
A wise son—the instruction of a father, And a scorner—he has not heard rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
A man eats good from the fruit of the mouth, And the soul of the treacherous—violence.
3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
Whoever is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoever is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!
4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
The soul of the slothful is desiring, and does not have. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
The righteous hates a false word, And the wicked causes abhorrence, and is confounded.
6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.
Righteousness keeps him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthrows a sin offering.
7 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
There is [he] who is making himself rich, and has nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.
8 Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
The ransom of a man’s life [are] his riches, And the poor has not heard rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
The light of the righteous rejoices, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
A vain man causes debate through pride, And wisdom [is] with the counseled.
11 Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
Wealth from vanity becomes little, And whoever is gathering by the hand becomes great.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.
13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
Whoever is despising the word is destroyed for it, And whoever is fearing the command is repaid.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.
Good understanding gives grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Every prudent one deals with knowledge, And a fool spreads out folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
A wicked messenger falls into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
Whoever is refusing instruction—poverty and shame, And whoever is observing reproof is honored.
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [Is] to turn from evil.
20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Whoever is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffers evil.
21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
Evil pursues sinners, And good repays the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
A good man causes sons’ sons to inherit, And the sinner’s wealth [is] laid up for the righteous.
23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
Abundance of food—the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Whoever is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoever is loving him has hurried his discipline.
25 A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacks!
