Proverbs 13
Lexham English Bible
13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.
2 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good,
but the desire[a] of the treacherous, wrongdoing.
3 He who keeps his mouth guards his life;[b]
he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.
4 The soul[c] of the lazy craves, but there is nothing,
but the person of diligence is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates a word of falsehood;
the wicked will bring shame and disgrace.[d]
6 Righteousness will guard the upright of way,
but wickedness will overthrow sin.
7 There is one who acts rich but has nothing;[e]
another who pretends to be poor but has wealth.
8 The ransom of the life of a man is his wealth,
but the poor does not receive a threat.
9 The light of the righteous will rejoice,
but the lamp of the wicked will die out.
10 Only by insolence is strife set up,
and wisdom is with those who take advice.
11 Wealth gained from haste[f] will dwindle,
but he who gathers little by little[g] will increase it.
12 Hope that is deferred makes the heart[h] sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 He who despises a word will bring destruction on himself,
but he who respects a commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
in order to avoid the snares of death.
15 Good sense grants favor,
but the way of the faithless is coarse.
16 Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence,
but the fool will display folly.
17 A messenger of wickedness will fall into trouble,
but an envoy of the faithful brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace belong to him who ignores instruction,
but he who guards reproof will be honored.
19 A desire fulfilled[i] will be sweet to the soul,
but an abomination of fools is turning from evil.
20 Walk with the wise and be wise,
but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.
21 Misfortune will pursue sinners,
but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.[j]
22 He who is good will leave an inheritance to his grandchildren,[k]
and stored up for the righteous is the wealth of a sinner.
23 There is much food in the field of the poor,
but it is swept away[l] by injustice.[m]
24 He who withholds his rod hates his child,
but he who loves him gives him[n] discipline.
25 The righteous eats to satisfy his life,[o]
but the belly of the wicked will lack.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:2 Or “soul”
- Proverbs 13:3 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 13:4 Or “life”
- Proverbs 13:5 Literally “he will bring disgrace”
- Proverbs 13:7 Literally “there is no”
- Proverbs 13:11 Or “vanity”
- Proverbs 13:11 Literally “upon the hand”
- Proverbs 13:12 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 13:19 Literally “made to be,” “brought about”
- Proverbs 13:21 Literally “it will reward prosperity”
- Proverbs 13:22 Literally “sons of sons”
- Proverbs 13:23 Literally “there is sweeping away”
- Proverbs 13:23 Literally “no justice”
- Proverbs 13:24 Literally “visits him”
- Proverbs 13:25 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
Proverbs 13
New King James Version
Wisdom Loves Righteousness
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
(A)But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 (B)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
3 (C)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 (D)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
5 A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
6 (E)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 (F)There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
(G)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By pride comes nothing but (H)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 (I)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But (J)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who (K)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 (L)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from (M)the snares of death.
15 Good understanding [a]gains (N)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 (O)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But (P)a faithful ambassador brings health.
18 Poverty and shame will come to him who [b]disdains correction,
But (Q)he who regards a rebuke will be honored.
19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 (R)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But (S)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
25 (V)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:15 gives
- Proverbs 13:18 Lit. ignores
- Proverbs 13:23 uncultivated
- Proverbs 13:23 Lit. what is swept away
- Proverbs 13:24 early
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
