The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(A)

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The wise are glad to be instructed,
    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

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17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(A)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

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17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,
    but those who ignore correction will go astray.

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(A)

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29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

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12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(A)

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12 To learn, you must love discipline;
    it is stupid to hate correction.

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13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

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13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Hebrew A wise son accepts his father’s discipline.

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(A)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(B)

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18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;
    if you accept correction, you will be honored.

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A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(A)

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Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(A)

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10 Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined;
    whoever hates correction will die.

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12 Mockers resent correction,(A)
    so they avoid the wise.

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12 Mockers hate to be corrected,
    so they stay away from the wise.

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31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(A)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(B)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(C)

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31 If you listen to constructive criticism,
    you will be at home among the wise.

32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

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14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(A)
    but the wise will appease it.(B)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(C)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(D)

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14 The anger of the king is a deadly threat;
    the wise will try to appease it.

15 When the king smiles, there is life;
    his favor refreshes like a spring rain.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

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