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13 A (A)wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a (B)scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth he (C)eats what is good,
But the soul of the treacherous desires (D)violence.
The one who (E)guards his mouth keeps his soul;
The one who (F)opens wide his lips [a]comes to ruin.
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is enriched.
A righteous man (G)hates a lying word,
But a wicked man [b](H)acts odiously and is humiliated.
Righteousness (I)guards the [c]one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the [d]sinner.
There is one who (J)pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another [e]pretends to be (K)poor, but has great wealth.
The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
The (L)light of the righteous is glad,
But the (M)lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 With arrogance [f]comes only quarreling,
But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.
11 Wealth obtained from empty effort dwindles,
But the one who gathers [g]with his hand abounds.
12 [h]Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire [i]fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The one who (N)despises the word will be [j]in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be (O)rewarded.
14 The [k]instruction of the wise is a (P)fountain of life,
To turn aside from the (Q)snares of death.
15 (R)Good insight gives grace,
But the way of the treacherous is [l]unrelenting.
16 Every (S)prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool spreads out folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into evil,
But (T)a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who (U)neglects [m]discipline,
But he who keeps reproof will be honored.
19 Desire realized is pleasant to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 (V)He who walks with the wise will be wise,
But the friend of fools will suffer harm.
21 (W)Evil pursues sinners,
But the (X)righteous are repaid with good.
22 A good man (Y)leaves an inheritance to his [n]children’s children,
And the (Z)wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 (AA)Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But [o]it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who (AB)holds back his [p]rod hates his son,
But he who loves him [q](AC)disciplines him diligently.
25 The (AD)righteous eats to the satisfaction of his soul,
But the stomach of the (AE)wicked lacks.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his
  2. Proverbs 13:5 Lit causes a bad odor and causes shame
  3. Proverbs 13:6 Lit blamelessness of way
  4. Proverbs 13:6 Lit sin
  5. Proverbs 13:7 Lit impoverishes himself
  6. Proverbs 13:10 Lit gives
  7. Proverbs 13:11 Or gradually
  8. Proverbs 13:12 Lit Expectation
  9. Proverbs 13:12 Lit coming
  10. Proverbs 13:13 Lit pledged to it
  11. Proverbs 13:14 Or law
  12. Proverbs 13:15 Lit constant
  13. Proverbs 13:18 Or instruction
  14. Proverbs 13:22 Lit sons’ sons
  15. Proverbs 13:23 Lit there is what is swept
  16. Proverbs 13:24 Correction, discipline
  17. Proverbs 13:24 Lit seeks him earnestly with discipline

13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

Wise words will win you a good meal,
    but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Lazy people want much but get little,
    but those who work hard will prosper.

The godly hate lies;
    the wicked cause shame and disgrace.

Godliness guards the path of the blameless,
    but the evil are misled by sin.

Some who are poor pretend to be rich;
    others who are rich pretend to be poor.

The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,
    but the poor won’t even get threatened.

The life of the godly is full of light and joy,
    but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

10 Pride leads to conflict;
    those who take advice are wise.

11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
    wealth from hard work grows over time.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
    those who respect a command will succeed.

14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;
    those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

15 A person with good sense is respected;
    a treacherous person is headed for destruction.[b]

16 Wise people think before they act;
    fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

17 An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,
    but a reliable messenger brings healing.

18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;
    if you accept correction, you will be honored.

19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

21 Trouble chases sinners,
    while blessings reward the righteous.

22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
    but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.

23 A poor person’s farm may produce much food,
    but injustice sweeps it all away.

24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
    Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

25 The godly eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Hebrew A wise son accepts his father’s discipline.
  2. 13:15 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads the way of the treacherous is lasting.