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
Living Bible
13 A wise youth accepts his father’s rebuke; a young mocker doesn’t.
2 The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight.
3 Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.
4 Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering.
5 A good man hates lies; wicked men lie constantly[a] and come to shame.
6 A man’s goodness helps him all through life, while evil men are being destroyed by their wickedness.
7 Some rich people are poor, and some poor people have great wealth!
8 Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!
9 The good man’s life is full of light. The sinner’s road is dark and gloomy.
10 Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise.
11 Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.[b]
13 Despise God’s Word and find yourself in trouble. Obey it and succeed.
14 The advice of a wise man refreshes like water from a mountain spring. Those accepting it become aware of the pitfalls on ahead.
15 A man with good sense is appreciated. A treacherous man must walk a rocky road.
16 A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!
17 An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress.
18 If you refuse criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept criticism, you are on the road to fame.
19 It is pleasant to see plans develop. That is why fools refuse to give them up even when they are wrong.
20 Be with wise men and become wise. Be with evil men and become evil.
21 Curses chase sinners, while blessings chase the righteous!
22 When a good man dies, he leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren; but when a sinner dies, his wealth is stored up for the godly.
23 A poor man’s farm may have good soil, but injustice robs him of its riches.
24 If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him; for if you love him, you will be prompt to punish him.
25 The good man eats to live, while the evil man lives to eat.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:5 wicked men lie constantly, implied.
- Proverbs 13:12 but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy, literally, “it is a tree of life.”
- Proverbs 13:25 while the evil man lives to eat, literally, “but the wicked never get enough.”
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.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.