Proverbs 13-15
English Standard Version
13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man (B)eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous (C)is for violence.
3 (D)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
(E)he who opens wide his lips (F)comes to ruin.
4 (G)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent (H)is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame[a] and disgrace.
6 (I)Righteousness guards him whose (J)way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 (K)One pretends to be rich,[b] yet has nothing;
(L)another pretends to be poor,[c] yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man (M)hears no threat.
9 (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.
14 (AO)The wisest of women (AP)builds her house,
but folly with her own hands (AQ)tears it down.
2 Whoever (AR)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is (AS)devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes (AT)a rod for his back,[j]
(AU)but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 (AV)A faithful witness does not lie,
but (AW)a false witness breathes out lies.
6 (AX)A scoffer seeks wisdom (AY)in vain,
but (AZ)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 (BA)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.[k]
10 The heart knows its own (BB)bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 (BC)The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 (BD)There is a way that seems right to a man,
but (BE)its end is the way to death.[l]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and (BF)the end of joy may be (BG)grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be (BH)filled with the fruit of his ways,
and (BI)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 (BJ)The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 (BK)One who is wise is cautious[m] and (BL)turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of (BM)quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 (BN)The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (BO)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
(BP)but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever (BQ)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but (BR)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (BS)devise evil?
Those who devise good meet[n] (BT)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk (BU)tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who (BV)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (BW)strong confidence,
and (BX)his children will have (BY)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (BZ)a fountain of life,
that one may (CA)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (CB)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (CC)slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[o] heart gives (CD)life to the flesh,
but (CE)envy[p] makes (CF)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (CG)insults his (CH)Maker,
(CI)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (CJ)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but (CK)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (CL)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[q]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has (CM)the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
15 (CN)A soft answer turns away wrath,
but (CO)a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but (CP)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 (CQ)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 (CR)A gentle[r] tongue is (CS)a tree of life,
but (CT)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 (CU)A fool (CV)despises his father's instruction,
but (CW)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 (CX)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
(CY)not so the hearts of fools.[s]
8 (CZ)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but (DA)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him (DB)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (DC)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
(DD)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more (DE)the hearts of the children of man!
12 (DF)A scoffer (DG)does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 (DH)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by (DI)sorrow of heart the spirit is (DJ)crushed.
14 (DK)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but (DL)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 (DM)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 (DN)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than (DO)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 (DP)A hot-tempered man (DQ)stirs up strife,
but he who is (DR)slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of (DS)a sluggard is like a hedge of (DT)thorns,
but the path of the upright is (DU)a level highway.
20 (DV)A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 (DW)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding (DX)walks straight ahead.
22 (DY)Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and (DZ)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward (EA)for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (EB)the proud
but (EC)maintains (ED)the widow's boundaries.
26 (EE)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but (EF)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (EG)greedy for unjust gain (EH)troubles his own household,
but he who hates (EI)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (EJ)ponders how to answer,
but (EK)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (EL)far from the wicked,
but he (EM)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (EN)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and (EO)good news refreshes[t] the bones.
31 (EP)The ear that listens to (EQ)life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (ER)ignores instruction (ES)despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof (ET)gains intelligence.
33 (EU)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and (EV)humility comes before honor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:5 Or stench
- Proverbs 13:7 Or One makes himself rich
- Proverbs 13:7 Or another makes himself poor
- Proverbs 13:11 Or by fraud
- Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
- Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment
- Proverbs 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut
- Proverbs 13:21 Or Evil
- Proverbs 13:24 Or who loves him disciplines him early
- Proverbs 14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride
- Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance
- Proverbs 14:12 Hebrew ways of death
- Proverbs 14:16 Or fears [the Lord]
- Proverbs 14:22 Or show
- Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
- Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
- Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
- Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
- Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
Mark 7
English Standard Version
Traditions and Commandments
7 (A)Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes (B)who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were (C)defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly,[a] holding to (D)the tradition of (E)the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.[b] And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as (F)the washing of (G)cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.[c]) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to (H)the tradition of (I)the elders, (J)but eat with (K)defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you (L)hypocrites, as it is written,
(M)“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as (N)doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of (O)rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, (P)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, (Q)‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)[d]— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus (R)making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
What Defiles a Person
14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, (S)“Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 (T)There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”[e] 17 And when he had entered (U)the house and left the people, (V)his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then (W)are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart (X)but his stomach, and is expelled?”[f] ((Y)Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, (Z)“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, (AA)murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, (AB)sensuality, (AC)envy, (AD)slander, (AE)pride, (AF)foolishness. 23 (AG)All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith
24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon.[g] And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 (AH)Now the woman was a (AI)Gentile, (AJ)a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be (AK)fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and (AL)throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's (AM)crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may (AN)go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man
31 (AO)Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to (AP)the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the (AQ)Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him (AR)a man who was deaf and (AS)had a speech impediment, and they begged him to (AT)lay his hand on him. 33 And (AU)taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and (AV)after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And (AW)looking up to heaven, (AX)he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 (AY)And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And (AZ)Jesus[h] charged them to tell no one. But (BA)the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were (BB)astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Footnotes
- Mark 7:3 Greek unless they wash the hands with a fist, probably indicating a kind of ceremonial washing
- Mark 7:4 Greek unless they baptize; some manuscripts unless they purify themselves
- Mark 7:4 Some manuscripts omit and dining couches
- Mark 7:11 Or an offering
- Mark 7:15 Some manuscripts add verse 16: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear
- Mark 7:19 Greek goes out into the latrine
- Mark 7:24 Some manuscripts omit and Sidon
- Mark 7:36 Greek he
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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