13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(C)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(D)

The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(E)

The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked bring disgust and shame.

Righteousness guards people of integrity,[a]
but wickedness undermines the sinner.(F)

One person pretends to be rich but has nothing;(G)
another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.(H)

Riches are a ransom for a person’s life,(I)
but a poor person hears no threat.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,(J)
but the lamp of the wicked is put out.(K)

10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(L)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(M)
but whoever earns it through labor[b] will multiply it.(N)

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

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(P)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(Q)

14 A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life,(R)
turning people away from the snares of death.(S)

15 Good sense wins favor,(T)
but the way of the treacherous never changes.[c]

16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(U)

17 A wicked envoy falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.(V)

18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.(W)

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.(X)

20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.(Y)

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[d] grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(Z)

23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.

24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,(AA)
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.(AB)

25 A righteous person eats until he is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. 13:6 Lit guards integrity of way
  2. 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon his hand
  3. 13:15 LXX, Syr, Tg read treacherous will perish
  4. 13:22 Or inheritance: his

13 A wise son listens to[a] the discipline of his father,
    but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.
People eat well from the fruit of their words,
    but the treacherous have an appetite only for violence.
People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
    but those who open their lips are ruined.
The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing;
    the appetite of the diligent is satisfied.
The righteous hate false words,
    but the wicked create disgust and scorn.
Righteousness guards the innocent on the path,
    but wickedness misleads sinners.
Some pretend to be rich but have nothing,
    while others pretend to be poor, but have great riches.
Wealth can ransom a person’s life,
    but the poor don’t even receive threats.
The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
    those who take advice are wise.
11 Riches gotten quickly[b] will dwindle,
    but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
12 Hope delayed makes the heart sick;
    longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
    but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    turning a person away from deathtraps.
15 Good insight brings favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[c]
16 The prudent all act intelligently,
    but fools display their stupidity.
17 Wicked messengers fall into trouble,
    but a reliable one brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
    honor belongs to those who heed correction.
19 A desire fulfilled is pleasant,
    but fools find deviating from evil disgusting.
20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.
21 Trouble pursues sinners,
    but good things reward the righteous.
22 Good people leave their grandchildren an inheritance,
    but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.
23 A poor person’s land might produce much food,
    but it is unjustly swept away.
24 Those who withhold the rod hate their children,
    but the one who loves them applies discipline.
25 The righteous eat their fill,
    but the wicked have empty stomachs.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 Heb lacks listens to.
  2. Proverbs 13:11 LXX; MT from meaninglessness
  3. Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT endures