Proverbs 13
1 A wise son is obedient to his father: but a disobedient son will be destroyed.
Children who are wise (pay attention/heed it) when their parents discipline/correct them; but foolish children do not pay attention when someone rebukes them [for their bad behavior].
2 A good [man] shall eat of the fruits of righteousness: but the lives of transgressors shall perish before their time.
Good people are rewarded [IDM] for the good things [MET] that they say, but those who desire to deceive others are [very] eager to act violently.
3 He that keeps his own mouth keeps his own life: but he that is hasty with his lips shall bring terror upon himself.
Those who are [very] careful about what they say [MTY] will live a long life; those who talk (without thinking/too much) will ruin themselves.
4 Every slothful man desires, but the hands of the active are diligent.
People who are lazy want things very much, but they will not get anything [HYP]. People who work hard will get all that they want.
5 A righteous man hates an unjust word: but an ungodly man is ashamed, and will have no confidence.
Righteous/Honest people hate/detest lies, but what wicked people do (is very disgraceful/stinks) [DOU].
The behavior [PRS] of those who always do what is right will protect them, but sinful [behavior will] ruin wicked people.
7 There are [some] who, having nothing, enrich themselves: and there are [some] who bring themselves down in [the midst of] much wealth.
Some people who have nothing pretend to be rich, but other people who are very rich pretend to be poor.
8 A man's own wealth is the ransom of his life: but the poor endures not threatening.
Rich people are able to pay people who want to kill them, [with the result that they will be protected, not killed], but poor people [do not have to worry about that because] no one threatens to kill them.
9 The righteous always have light: but the light of the ungodly is quenched. Crafty souls go astray in sins: but just men pity, and are merciful.
Righteous [people] are like a lamp [MET] that shines brightly, but wicked [people] are like [MET] a lamp that will [soon] be extinguished.
10 A bad man does evil with insolence: but they that are judges of themselves are wise.
[People] who are arrogant/proud [always] cause strife; those who are wise ask [other people] for good advice.
11 Wealth gotten hastily with iniquity is diminished: but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall be increased. The righteous is merciful, and lends.
Those who acquire a lot of money quickly [by doing what is wrong, probably] will lose it [quickly], but if people earn money slowly, the amount of money they have will increase.
12 Better is he that begins to help heartily, than he that promises and leads [another] to hope: for a good desire is a tree of life.
When people do not receive the things that they are expecting to receive, (it causes them to despair/they become very sad); but if you receive what you are desiring to get, that [will be like a tree] [MET] [whose fruit gives you] life (OR, that will cause you to be joyful).
13 He that slights a matter shall be slighted of it: but he that fears the commandment has health [of soul]. To a crafty son there shall be nothing good: but a wise servant shall have prosperous doings, and his way shall be directed aright.
Those who despise [the good] advice [that others give them] are bringing ruin on themselves; those who pay attention to that advice will (be secure/succeed).
14 The law of the wise is fountain of life: but the man void of understanding shall die by a snare.
What wise [people] teach is [like] a fountain whose [water] gives life [MET]; what they teach you will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].
15 Sound discretion gives favour, and to know the law is the part of a sound understanding: but the ways of scorners tend to destruction.
[People] respect those who have good sense, but those who cannot be trusted are on the road to being ruined/destroyed (OR, will have a lot of difficulties/troubles).
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge: but the fool displays his own mischief.
Those who have good sense always think carefully/wisely before they do something; foolish people show [by what they say and do] that they are foolish.
17 A rash king shall fall into mischief: but a wise messenger shall deliver him.
Messengers who are not reliable cause trouble, but those who faithfully [deliver their messages] cause people to act peacefully.
18 Instruction removes poverty and disgrace: but he that attends to reproofs shall be honoured.
Those who refuse to pay attention when others discipline/correct them will become poor and disgraced; [people] respect those who accept it when they are rebuked [for their bad behavior].
19 The desires of the godly gladden the soul, but the works of the ungodly are far from knowledge.
It is delightful to receive what we desire; foolish people hate/refuse to turn away from doing evil.
20 If you walk with wise men you shall be wise: but he that walks with fools shall be known.
Those who habitually associate with wise people become wise; those who (are close friends of/associate with) foolish people will (regret it/be ruined).
21 Evil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.
Sinners have trouble [PRS] wherever they go, but things will go well for righteous [people].
22 A good man shall inherit children's children; and the wealth of ungodly men is laid up for the just.
When good people [die], their grandchildren inherit their money; but when sinners [die], the money that they had will end up in the hands of righteous [people].
23 The righteous shall spend many years in wealth: but the unrighteous shall perish suddenly.
[Sometimes] poor [people’s] fields produce plenty of food, but unjust people take away all that food.
24 He that spares the rod hates his son: but he that loves, carefully chastens [him].
Those who do not punish their children [for bad behavior] do not [really] love them; those who love their children start to discipline them when the children are still young.
25 A just [man] eats and satisfies his soul: but the souls of the ungodly are in lack.
Righteous [people] have enough food to eat and be satisfied, but the stomachs of wicked [people] [SYN] are [always] empty.
