Proverbs 13
1599 Geneva Bible
13 1 A wise son will obey the instruction of his father: but a scorner will hear no rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good things by the fruit [a]of his mouth: but the soul of the trespasser shall suffer violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life: but he that openeth his lips, destruction shall be to him.
4 The sluggard [b]lusteth, but his soul hath nought: but the soul of the diligent shall have plenty.
5 A righteous man hateth lying words: but the wicked causeth slander and shame.
6 Righteousness preserveth the upright of [c]life: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, and hath nothing, and that maketh himself poor, having great riches.
8 A man will give his riches for the ransom of his life: but the poor [d]cannot hear the reproach.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride [e]doth man make contention: but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 The [f]riches of vanity shall diminish: but he that gathereth with [g]the hand, shall increase them.
12 The hope that is deferred, is the fainting of the heart, but when the desire cometh, it is as a tree of life.
13 He that despiseth [h]the word, he shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the commandment, he shall be rewarded.
14 The instruction of a wise man is as the wellspring of life, to turn away from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding maketh acceptable: but the way of the disobedient is hated.
16 Every wise man will work by knowledge: but a fool will spread abroad folly.
17 (A)A wicked messenger falleth [i]into evil: but a faithful ambassador is preservation.
18 Poverty and shame is to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth correction, shall be honored.
19 A desire accomplished, delighteth the soul: but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with the wise shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be [j]afflicted.
21 Affliction followeth sinners: but unto the righteous, God will recompense good.
22 The good man shall give inheritance unto his children’s children: and the [k]riches of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the field of the [l]poor, but the field is destroyed without discretion.
24 (B)He that spareth his rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betime.
25 The righteous eateth to the contentation of his mind: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:2 If he use his tongue to God’s glory, and the profit of his neighbor, God shall bless him.
- Proverbs 13:4 He ever desireth, but taketh no pains to get anything.
- Proverbs 13:6 Hebrew, way.
- Proverbs 13:8 For his poverty, he is not able to escape the threatenings, which the cruel oppressors use against him.
- Proverbs 13:10 When as every man contendeth to have the preeminence, and will not give place to another.
- Proverbs 13:11 That is, goods evil gotten.
- Proverbs 13:11 That is, with his own labor.
- Proverbs 13:13 Meaning, the word of God, whereby he is admonished of his duty.
- Proverbs 13:17 Bringeth many inconveniences both to himself and to others.
- Proverbs 13:20 As he is partaker of their wickedness, and beareth with their vices, so shall he be punished alike as they are.
- Proverbs 13:22 Read Job 27:16, 17.
- Proverbs 13:23 God blesseth the labor of the poor, and consumeth their goods which are negligent, because they think they have enough.
Proverbs 13
The Message
Walk with the Wise
13 Intelligent children listen to their parents;
foolish children do their own thing.
2 The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation;
bullies push and shove their way through life.
3 Careful words make for a careful life;
careless talk may ruin everything.
4 Indolence wants it all and gets nothing;
the energetic have something to show for their lives.
5 A good person hates false talk;
a bad person wallows in gibberish.
6 A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
7 A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
a plain and simple life is a full life.
8 The rich can be sued for everything they have,
but the poor are free of such threats.
9 The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.
10 Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.
11 Easy come, easy go,
but steady diligence pays off.
12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.
13 Ignore the Word and suffer;
honor God’s commands and grow rich.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
15 Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
but liars walk a rough road.
16 A commonsense person lives good sense;
fools litter the country with silliness.
17 Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
18 Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
embrace correction and live an honored life.
19 Souls who follow their hearts thrive;
fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
20 Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
21 Disaster entraps sinners,
but God-loyal people get a good life.
22 A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren;
ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.
23 Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor,
or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.
24 A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
love your children by disciplining them.
25 An appetite for good brings much satisfaction,
but the belly of the wicked always wants more.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson