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
Revised Standard Version
13 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5 A righteous man hates falsehood,
but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is upright,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man has no means of redemption.[a]
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By insolence the heedless make strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 Wealth hastily gotten[b] will dwindle,
but he who gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 He who despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may avoid the snares of death.
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[c]
16 In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A bad messenger plunges men into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but he who heeds reproof is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul;
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 He who walks with wise men becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor yields much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:8 Cn: Heb does not hear rebuke
- Proverbs 13:11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
- Proverbs 13:15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.