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13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
    but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.
From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good,
    but the desire[a] of the treacherous, wrongdoing.
He who keeps his mouth guards his life;[b]
    he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.
The soul[c] of the lazy craves, but there is nothing,
    but the person of diligence is richly supplied.
The righteous hates a word of falsehood;
    the wicked will bring shame and disgrace.[d]
Righteousness will guard the upright of way,
    but wickedness will overthrow sin.
There is one who acts rich but has nothing;[e]
    another who pretends to be poor but has wealth.
The ransom of the life of a man is his wealth,
    but the poor does not receive a threat.
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

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Or “soul”
  2. Proverbs 13:3 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  3. Proverbs 13:4 Or “life”
  4. Proverbs 13:5 Literally “he will bring disgrace”
  5. Proverbs 13:7 Literally “there is no”
  6. Proverbs 13:11 Or “vanity”
  7. Proverbs 13:11 Literally “upon the hand”
  8. Proverbs 13:12 Or “mind”
  9. Proverbs 13:19 Literally “made to be,” “brought about”
  10. Proverbs 13:21 Literally “it will reward prosperity”
  11. Proverbs 13:22 Literally “sons of sons”
  12. Proverbs 13:23 Literally “there is sweeping away”
  13. Proverbs 13:23 Literally “no justice”
  14. Proverbs 13:24 Literally “visits him”
  15. Proverbs 13:25 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

13 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,
    but the unfaithful crave violence.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
    One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,
    but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
A righteous man hates lies,
    but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.
    There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
    but the poor hear no threats.
The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Pride only breeds quarrels,
    but wisdom is with people who take advice.
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
    but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,
    but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,
    to turn from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
    but a fool exposes folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,
    but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but fools detest turning from evil.
20 One who walks with wise men grows wise,
    but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
    but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
    but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23 An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,
    but injustice sweeps it away.
24 One who spares the rod hates his son,
    but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul,
    but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.