Proverbs 13
1 A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of [his] mouth: but the soul of the transgressors [shall eat] violence.
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
5 A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is lothsome, and cometh to shame.
The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness keepeth [him that is] upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet [hath] nothing: [there is] that maketh himself poor, yet [hath] great riches.
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life [is] his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised [is] wisdom.
Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors [is] hard.
Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.
16 Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful embassador [is] health.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil.
Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
20 He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
22 A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
23 Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor: but there is [that is] destroyed for want of judgment.
Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
