Proverbs 10:13-24

Contemporary English Version

¹³If you have good sense,
    it will show when you speak.
But if you are stupid,
you will be beaten
    with a stick.
¹⁴If you have good sense,
    you will learn all you can,
but foolish talk
    will soon destroy you.

¹⁵Great wealth can be a fortress,
but poverty
    is no protection at all.
¹⁶If you live right,
    the reward is a good life;
if you are evil,
    all you have is sin.

¹⁷Accept correction,
    and you will find life;
reject correction,
    and you will miss the road.
¹⁸You can hide your hatred
    by telling lies,
but you are a fool
    to spread lies.
¹⁹You will say the wrong thing
    if you talk too much—
so be sensible and watch
    what you say.
²⁰The words of a good person
    are like pure silver,
but the thoughts
of an evil person
    are almost worthless.
²¹Many are helped
    by useful instruction,
but fools are killed
    by their own stupidity.

²²When the Lord blesses you
with riches,
    you have nothing to regret.^[a]
²³Fools enjoy doing wrong,
but anyone with good sense
    enjoys acting wisely.
²⁴What evil people dread most
    will happen to them,
but good people will get
    what they want most.