13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(L)

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(M)

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(N)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

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

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(P)
    but whoever respects(Q) a command is rewarded.(R)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(T)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
    but fools expose(U) their folly.(V)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(W)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(X)

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(Y)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(Z)

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(AA)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(AB)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(AC)
    but the righteous(AD) are rewarded with good things.(AE)

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(AF)

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

24 Whoever spares the rod(AG) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(AH) them.(AI)

25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through

13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)
From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
    those who open wide their lips come to ruin.(B)
The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing,
    while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.(C)
The righteous hate falsehood,
    but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.(D)
Some pretend to be rich yet have nothing;
    others pretend to be poor yet have great wealth.(E)
Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
    but a poor person pays no attention to a rebuke.
The light of the righteous rejoices,[b]
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.(F)
10 By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife,
    but wisdom is with those who take advice.(G)
11 Wealth hastily gotten[c] will dwindle,
    but those who gather little by little will increase it.(H)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(I)
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.(J)
15 Good sense wins favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[d](K)
16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.(L)
17 A bad messenger brings trouble,
    but a faithful envoy, healing.(M)
18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honored.(N)
19 A desire realized 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 suffers harm.(O)
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
    but prosperity rewards the righteous.(P)
22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.(Q)
23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
    but it is swept away through injustice.(R)
24 Those who spare the rod hate their children,
    but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.(S)
25 The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked is empty.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father
  2. 13.9 Or shines
  3. 13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
  4. 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring

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.