Proverbs 13:12-14:30

English Standard Version

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    ^(A)but a desire fulfilled is ^(B)a tree of life.
¹³ Whoever ^(C)despises ^(D)the word^[a] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment^[b] will be ^(E)rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is ^(F)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(G)turn away from the snares of death.
^15 (H)Good sense wins ^(I)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.^[c]
16 (J)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
    ^(K)but a fool flaunts his folly.
¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but ^(L)a faithful envoy brings healing.
¹⁸ Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^(M)ignores instruction,
    ^(N)but whoever ^(O)heeds reproof is honored.
^19 (P)A desire fulfilled 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 will suffer harm.
^21 (Q)Disaster^[d] pursues sinners,
    ^(R)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
^22 (S)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but ^(T)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through ^(U)injustice.
^24 (V)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.^[e]
25 (W)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
14 ^(X)The wisest of women ^(Y)builds her house,
    but folly with her own hands ^(Z)tears it down.
² Whoever ^(AA)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is ^(AB)devious in his ways despises him.
³ By the mouth of a fool comes ^(AC)a rod for his back,^{[f]
    (AD)}but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
^5 (AE)A faithful witness does not lie,
    but ^(AF)a false witness breathes out lies.
^6 (AG)A scoffer seeks wisdom ^(AH)in vain,
    but ^(AI)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
⁷ Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
^9 (AJ)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.^[g]
10 The heart knows its own ^(AK)bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
^11 (AL)The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
^12 (AM)There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but ^(AN)its end is the way to death.^[h]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and ^(AO)the end of joy may be ^(AP)grief.
¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be ^(AQ)filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and ^(AR)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
^15 (AS)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
^16 (AT)One who is wise is cautious^[i] and ^(AU)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
¹⁷ A man of ^(AV)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
^19 (AW)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
^20 (AX)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    ^(AY)but the rich has many friends.
²¹ Whoever ^(AZ)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but ^(BA)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
²² Do they not go astray who ^(BB)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet^{[j] (BC)}steadfast love and faithfulness.
²³ In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk ^(BD)tends only to poverty.
²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who ^(BE)breathes out lies is deceitful.
²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has ^(BF)strong confidence,
    and ^(BG)his children will have ^(BH)a refuge.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is ^(BI)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(BJ)turn away from the snares of death.
²⁸ In ^(BK)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹ Whoever is ^(BL)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰ A tranquil^[k] heart gives ^(BM)life to the flesh,
    but ^(BN)envy^[l] makes ^(BO)the bones rot.