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13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)
From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
    those who open wide their lips come to ruin.(B)
The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing,
    while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.(C)
The righteous hate falsehood,
    but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.(D)
Some pretend to be rich yet have nothing;
    others pretend to be poor yet have great wealth.(E)
Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
    but a poor person pays no attention to a rebuke.
The light of the righteous rejoices,[b]
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.(F)
10 By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife,
    but wisdom is with those who take advice.(G)
11 Wealth hastily gotten[c] will dwindle,
    but those who gather little by little will increase it.(H)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(I)
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.(J)
15 Good sense wins favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[d](K)
16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.(L)
17 A bad messenger brings trouble,
    but a faithful envoy, healing.(M)
18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honored.(N)
19 A desire realized 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 suffers harm.(O)
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
    but prosperity rewards the righteous.(P)
22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.(Q)
23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
    but it is swept away through injustice.(R)
24 Those who spare the rod hate their children,
    but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.(S)
25 The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked is empty.(T)

14 The wise woman[e] builds her house,
    but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
    but one who is devious in conduct despises him.(U)
The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,[f]
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.(V)
Where there are no oxen, there is no grain;
    abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
A faithful witness does not lie,
    but a false witness breathes out lies.(W)
A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not find words of knowledge.
It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
    but the folly of fools misleads.(X)
Fools mock at the guilt offering,[g]
    but the upright enjoy God’s favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked is destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright flourishes.(Y)
12 There is a way that seems right to a person,
    but its end is the way to death.[h](Z)
13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,
    and the end of joy is grief.(AA)
14 The perverse get what their ways deserve,
    and the good, what their deeds deserve.[i](AB)
15 The simple believe everything,
    but the clever consider their steps.
16 The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
    but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.(AC)
17 One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
    and the schemer is hated.(AD)
18 The simple are adorned with[j] folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.(AE)
19 The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(AF)
20 The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(AG)
21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
    but happy are those who are kind to the poor.(AH)
22 Do not those who plan evil err?
    Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but folly is the garland[k] of fools.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who utters lies is a betrayer.(AI)
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
    and one’s children will have a refuge.(AJ)
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.(AK)
28 The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
    without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.(AL)
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
    but jealousy makes the bones rot.(AM)
31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
    but those who are kind to the needy honor him.(AN)
32 The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,
    but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.[l](AO)
33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
    but it is not[m] known in the heart of fools.(AP)
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.(AQ)
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(AR)

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.(AS)
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.(AT)
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.(AU)
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(AV)
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the minds of fools.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(AW)
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(AX)
10 There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way;
    one who hates a rebuke will die.(AY)
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more human hearts!(AZ)
12 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
    they will not go to the wise.(BA)
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.(BB)
14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the poor are hard,
    but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.(BC)
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
    than a fatted ox and hatred with it.(BD)
18 Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
    but those who are slow to anger calm contention.(BE)
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.(BF)
20 A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.(BG)
21 Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
    but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.(BH)
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.(BI)
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
    and a word in season, how good it is!(BJ)
24 For the wise the path of life leads upward,
    in order to avoid Sheol below.(BK)
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.(BL)
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
    but gracious words are pure.(BM)
27 Those greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
    but those who hate bribes will live.(BN)
28 The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.(BO)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(BP)
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
    will lodge among the wise.
32 Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
    but those who heed admonition gain understanding.(BQ)
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility goes before honor.(BR)

Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father
  2. 13.9 Or shines
  3. 13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
  4. 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring
  5. 14.1 Heb Wisdom of women
  6. 14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride
  7. 14.9 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  8. 14.12 Heb ways of death
  9. 14.14 Cn: Heb from upon him
  10. 14.18 Or inherit
  11. 14.24 Cn: Heb is the folly
  12. 14.32 Gk Syr: Heb in their death
  13. 14.33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not

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)

14 The wise woman builds her house,(AK)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(AL)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(AM)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(AN) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(AO)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(AP)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(AQ)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(AR)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(AS)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(AT)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(AU)
    but in the end it leads to death.(AV)

13 Even in laughter(AW) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(AX)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(AY)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(AZ)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(BA)
    but a fool(BB) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(BC) does foolish things,(BD)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(BE)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(BF)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(BG)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(BH)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(BI)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(BJ)
    But those who plan what is good find[c] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(BK)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(BL)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(BM)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(BN)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(BO)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(BP)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(BQ)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(BR)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(BS)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(BT)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(BU)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(BV)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(BW)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(BX)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(BY)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[d]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(BZ)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(CA)

15 A gentle answer(CB) turns away wrath,(CC)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(CD)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(CE)

The eyes(CF) of the Lord are everywhere,(CG)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(CH)

The soothing tongue(CI) is a tree of life,(CJ)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(CK)

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(CL)

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(CM)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(CN)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(CO)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

The Lord detests the sacrifice(CP) of the wicked,(CQ)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(CR)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(CS)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(CT)

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(CU)

11 Death and Destruction[e] lie open before the Lord(CV)
    how much more do human hearts!(CW)

12 Mockers resent correction,(CX)
    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(CY)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(CZ)

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(DA)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(DB)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(DC)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(DD)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(DE)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(DF)

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(DG)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(DH)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,(DI)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(DJ)
    but with many advisers(DK) they succeed.(DL)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(DM)
    and how good is a timely word!(DN)

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(DO)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(DP)

26 The Lord detests the thoughts(DQ) of the wicked,(DR)
    but gracious words are pure(DS) in his sight.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(DT)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(DU)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(DV)

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(DW)

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(DX)

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(DY)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(DZ)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(EA)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(EB)
    and humility comes before honor.(EC)

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
  3. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  4. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
  5. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon

For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.(A) For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly dwelling, for surely when we have been clothed in it[a] we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burden because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.(B) The one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a down payment.(C)

So we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight.(D) Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive due recompense for actions done in the body, whether good or evil.(E)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.(F) 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.(G) 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.(H) 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.(I) 15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for the one who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;[b] even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,[c] we no longer know him in that way.(J) 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there[d] is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being![e](K) 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;(L) 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,[f] not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.(M) 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.(N) 21 For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(O)

Footnotes

  1. 5.3 Other ancient authorities read taken it off
  2. 5.16 Gk according to the flesh
  3. 5.16 Gk according to the flesh
  4. 5.17 Or that person
  5. 5.17 Other ancient authorities read everything has become new
  6. 5.19 Or God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself

Awaiting the New Body

For we know that if the earthly(A) tent(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan,(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(D) because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(G)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.(H) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(I) So we make it our goal to please him,(J) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(K) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(L) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(M) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(N) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(O) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(P) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(Q) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(R) but for him who died for them(S) and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(T) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(U) the new creation(V) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(W) 18 All this is from God,(X) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(Y) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(Z) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(AA) as though God were making his appeal through us.(AB) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(AC) 21 God made him who had no sin(AD) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering