13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(L)

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(M)

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(N)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(O)

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(P)
    but whoever respects(Q) a command is rewarded.(R)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(T)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
    but fools expose(U) their folly.(V)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(W)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(X)

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(Y)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(Z)

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(AA)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(AB)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(AC)
    but the righteous(AD) are rewarded with good things.(AE)

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(AF)

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

24 Whoever spares the rod(AG) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(AH) them.(AI)

25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through

13 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

Wise words will win you a good meal,
    but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Lazy people want much but get little,
    but those who work hard will prosper.

The godly hate lies;
    the wicked cause shame and disgrace.

Godliness guards the path of the blameless,
    but the evil are misled by sin.

Some who are poor pretend to be rich;
    others who are rich pretend to be poor.

The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,
    but the poor won’t even get threatened.

The life of the godly is full of light and joy,
    but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

10 Pride leads to conflict;
    those who take advice are wise.

11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
    wealth from hard work grows over time.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
    those who respect a command will succeed.

14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;
    those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

15 A person with good sense is respected;
    a treacherous person is headed for destruction.[b]

16 Wise people think before they act;
    fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

17 An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,
    but a reliable messenger brings healing.

18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;
    if you accept correction, you will be honored.

19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

21 Trouble chases sinners,
    while blessings reward the righteous.

22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
    but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.

23 A poor person’s farm may produce much food,
    but injustice sweeps it all away.

24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
    Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

25 The godly eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Hebrew A wise son accepts his father’s discipline.
  2. 13:15 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads the way of the treacherous is lasting.

13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
From the fruit of his mouth a man (B)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous (C)is for violence.
(D)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    (E)he who opens wide his lips (F)comes to ruin.
(G)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent (H)is richly supplied.
The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame[a] and disgrace.
(I)Righteousness guards him whose (J)way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
(K)One pretends to be rich,[b] yet has nothing;
    (L)another pretends to be poor,[c] yet has great wealth.
The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
    but a poor man (M)hears no threat.
(N)The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but (O)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 (P)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 (Q)Wealth gained hastily[d] will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    (R)but a desire fulfilled is (S)a tree of life.
13 Whoever (T)despises (U)the word[e] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment[f] will be (V)rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is (W)a fountain of life,
    that one may (X)turn away from the snares of death.
15 (Y)Good sense wins (Z)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.[g]
16 (AA)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
    (AB)but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but (AC)a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who (AD)ignores instruction,
    (AE)but whoever (AF)heeds reproof is honored.
19 (AG)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 (AH)Disaster[h] pursues sinners,
    (AI)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 (AJ)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but (AK)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through (AL)injustice.
24 (AM)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.[i]
25 (AN)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:5 Or stench
  2. Proverbs 13:7 Or One makes himself rich
  3. Proverbs 13:7 Or another makes himself poor
  4. Proverbs 13:11 Or by fraud
  5. Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
  6. Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment
  7. Proverbs 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut
  8. Proverbs 13:21 Or Evil
  9. Proverbs 13:24 Or who loves him disciplines him early