Proverbs 13
New Living Translation
13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
2 Wise words will win you a good meal,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
opening your mouth can ruin everything.
4 Lazy people want much but get little,
but those who work hard will prosper.
5 The godly hate lies;
the wicked cause shame and disgrace.
6 Godliness guards the path of the blameless,
but the evil are misled by sin.
7 Some who are poor pretend to be rich;
others who are rich pretend to be poor.
8 The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,
but the poor won’t even get threatened.
9 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.
Proverbs 13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)
2 From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
3 Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
those who open wide their lips come to ruin.(B)
4 The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing,
while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.(C)
5 The righteous hate falsehood,
but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
6 Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
but sin overthrows the wicked.(D)
7 Some pretend to be rich yet have nothing;
others pretend to be poor yet have great wealth.(E)
8 Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
but a poor person pays no attention to a rebuke.
9 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)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.