< Proverbs 13 >

1 A wise son—the instruction of a father, And a scorner—he has not heard rebuke.
A wise son is the doctrine of his father. But he who ridicules does not listen when he is reproved.
2 A man eats good from the fruit of the mouth, And the soul of the treacherous—violence.
From the fruit of his own mouth, a man shall be satisfied with good things. But the soul of betrayers is iniquity.
3 Whoever is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoever is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!
Whoever guards his mouth guards his soul. But whoever gives no consideration to his speech shall experience misfortunes.
4 The soul of the slothful is desiring, and does not have. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
The lazy one is willing and then not willing. But the soul of he who labors shall be made fat.
5 The righteous hates a false word, And the wicked causes abhorrence, and is confounded.
The just shall detest a lying word. But the impious confound and will be confounded.
6 Righteousness keeps him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthrows a sin offering.
Justice guards the way of the innocent. But impiety undermines the sinner.
7 There is [he] who is making himself rich, and has nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.
One is like the rich, though he has nothing. And another is like the poor, though he has many riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life [are] his riches, And the poor has not heard rebuke.
The redemption of a man’s life is his riches. But he who is poor cannot tolerate correction.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
The light of the just enriches. But the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
10 A vain man causes debate through pride, And wisdom [is] with the counseled.
Among the arrogant, there are always conflicts. But those who do everything with counsel are ruled by wisdom.
11 Wealth from vanity becomes little, And whoever is gathering by the hand becomes great.
Substance obtained in haste will be diminished. But what is collected by hand, little by little, shall be multiplied.
12 Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.
Hope, when it is delayed, afflicts the soul. The arrival of the desired is a tree of life.
13 Whoever is despising the word is destroyed for it, And whoever is fearing the command is repaid.
Whoever denounces something obligates himself for the future. But whoever fears a lesson shall turn away in peace. Deceitful souls wander into sins. The just are merciful and compassionate.
14 The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, so that he may turn aside from the ruin of death.
15 Good understanding gives grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.
Good doctrine bestows grace. In the way of the contemptuous, there is a chasm.
16 Every prudent one deals with knowledge, And a fool spreads out folly.
The discerning do everything with counsel. But whoever is senseless discloses his stupidity.
17 A wicked messenger falls into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
The messenger of the impious will fall into evil. But a faithful ambassador shall prosper.
18 Whoever is refusing instruction—poverty and shame, And whoever is observing reproof is honored.
Destitution and disgrace are for those who abandon discipline. But whoever agrees with a reproof shall be glorified.
19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [Is] to turn from evil.
The desired, when perfected, shall delight the soul. The foolish detest those who flee from evils.
20 Whoever is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffers evil.
Whoever keeps step with the wise shall be wise. A friend of the foolish will become like them.
21 Evil pursues sinners, And good repays the righteous.
Evil pursues sinners. And good things shall be distributed to the just.
22 A good man causes sons’ sons to inherit, And the sinner’s wealth [is] laid up for the righteous.
The good leave behind heirs: children and grandchildren. And the substance of the sinner is preserved for the just.
23 Abundance of food—the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.
Much nourishment is in the fallow land of the fathers. But for others, it is gathered without judgment.
24 Whoever is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoever is loving him has hurried his discipline.
He who spares the rod hates his son. But he who loves him urgently instructs him.
25 The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacks!
The just eats and fills his soul. But the belly of the impious is never satisfied.

< Proverbs 13 >