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
Proverbs 13
American Standard Version
13 A wise son heareth his father’s [a]instruction;
But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good [b]by the fruit of his mouth;
But [c]the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.
3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life;
But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying;
But a wicked man [d]is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness guardeth [e]him that is upright in the way;
But wickedness overthroweth [f]the sinner.
7 There is that [g]maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:
There is that [h]maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches;
But the poor heareth no [i]threatening.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth;
But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 By pride cometh only contention;
But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished;
But he that gathereth [j]by labor shall have increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;
But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word [k]bringeth destruction on himself;
But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The [l]law of the wise is a fountain of life,
That one may depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding [m]giveth favor;
But the way of the transgressor is hard.
16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge;
But a fool flaunteth his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil;
But a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth [n]correction;
But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul;
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 [o]Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise;
But the companion of fools shall [p]smart for it.
21 Evil pursueth sinners;
But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children;
And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23 Much food is in the [q]tillage of the poor;
But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son;
But he that loveth him chasteneth him [r]betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul;
But the belly of the wicked shall want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 Or, correction
- Proverbs 13:2 Or, from
- Proverbs 13:2 Or, the desire of the treacherous is for violence
- Proverbs 13:5 Or, causeth shame and bringeth reproach
- Proverbs 13:6 Hebrew uprightness of way.
- Proverbs 13:6 Hebrew sin.
- Proverbs 13:7 Or, feigneth
- Proverbs 13:7 Or, feigneth
- Proverbs 13:8 Or, rebuke
- Proverbs 13:11 Hebrew with the hand.
- Proverbs 13:13 Or, maketh himself a debtor thereto
- Proverbs 13:14 Or, teaching
- Proverbs 13:15 Or, getteth
- Proverbs 13:18 Or, instruction
- Proverbs 13:20 According to another reading, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.
- Proverbs 13:20 Hebrew be broken.
- Proverbs 13:23 Or, tilled land
- Proverbs 13:24 Or, diligently
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.
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