Proverbs 13
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.
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 13
International Standard Version
Who is a Wise Son?
13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[b]
but the treacherous crave violence.
3 Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
anyone who talks too much[c] is ruined.
4 The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.
5 A righteous person hates deceit,
but the wicked person is shameful and disgraceful.
6 Righteousness protects the blameless,
but wickedness brings down[d] the sinner.
7 One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.
8 The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom,
but whoever is poor receives no threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines,
but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Arrogance only brings quarreling,
but those receiving advice are wise.
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.[e]
12 Delayed hope makes the heart ill,
but fulfilled longing is a tree of life.
13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.
14 What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life
and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces grace,
but the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.[f]
16 Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
but a fool demonstrates folly.
17 An evil messenger stumbles into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.
19 Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul,
but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.
20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Disaster pursues the sinful,
but good will reward the righteous.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.
23 The field of the poor may produce much food,
but it can be swept away through injustice.
24 Whoever does not discipline[g] his son hates him,
but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.
25 A righteous person eats to his heart’s content,
but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 The Heb. lacks heeds
- Proverbs 13:2 Lit. man eats good things
- Proverbs 13:3 Lit. who opens wide his lips
- Proverbs 13:6 So MT DSS 4QProvb; LXX reads but sins ruin the wicked
- Proverbs 13:11 The Heb. lacks his prosperity
- Proverbs 13:15 So MT; LXX Syr read grace, and to know the Law is the sign of a sound mind, but the path of scorners ends in destruction
- Proverbs 13:24 Lit. Whoever spares the rod
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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