Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
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 man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
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 keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
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 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
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 hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
Righteous/Honest people hate/detest lies, but what wicked people do (is very disgraceful/stinks) [DOU].
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
The behavior [PRS] of those who always do what is right will protect them, but sinful [behavior will] ruin wicked people.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Some people who have nothing pretend to be rich, but other people who are very rich pretend to be poor.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
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 light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
Righteous [people] are like a lamp [MET] that shines brightly, but wicked [people] are like [MET] a lamp that will [soon] be extinguished.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
[People] who are arrogant/proud [always] cause strife; those who are wise ask [other people] for good advice.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
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 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it 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 Whoever despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
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 a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
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 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
[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 dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
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 wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Messengers who are not reliable cause trouble, but those who faithfully [deliver their messages] cause people to act peacefully.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof 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 desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
It is delightful to receive what we desire; foolish people hate/refuse to turn away from doing evil.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
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 pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be rewarded with prosperity.
Sinners have trouble [PRS] wherever they go, but things will go well for righteous [people].
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner 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 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for lack of judgment.
[Sometimes] poor [people’s] fields produce plenty of food, but unjust people take away all that food.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him early.
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 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
Righteous [people] have enough food to eat and be satisfied, but the stomachs of wicked [people] [SYN] are [always] empty.
