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)
Proverbs 13
Common English Bible
13 A wise son listens to[a] the discipline of his father,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.
2 People eat well from the fruit of their words,
but the treacherous have an appetite only for violence.
3 People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
but those who open their lips are ruined.
4 The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing;
the appetite of the diligent is satisfied.
5 The righteous hate false words,
but the wicked create disgust and scorn.
6 Righteousness guards the innocent on the path,
but wickedness misleads sinners.
7 Some pretend to be rich but have nothing,
while others pretend to be poor, but have great riches.
8 Wealth can ransom a person’s life,
but the poor don’t even receive threats.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
those who take advice are wise.
11 Riches gotten quickly[b] will dwindle,
but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
12 Hope delayed makes the heart sick;
longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a person away from deathtraps.
15 Good insight brings favor,
but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[c]
16 The prudent all act intelligently,
but fools display their stupidity.
17 Wicked messengers fall into trouble,
but a reliable one brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
honor belongs to those who heed correction.
19 A desire fulfilled is pleasant,
but fools find deviating from evil disgusting.
20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
befriend fools and get in trouble.
21 Trouble pursues sinners,
but good things reward the righteous.
22 Good people leave their grandchildren an inheritance,
but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.
23 A poor person’s land might produce much food,
but it is unjustly swept away.
24 Those who withhold the rod hate their children,
but the one who loves them applies discipline.
25 The righteous eat their fill,
but the wicked have empty stomachs.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 Heb lacks listens to.
- Proverbs 13:11 LXX; MT from meaninglessness
- Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT endures
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.
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