Proverbs 13
New Century Version
13 Wise children take their parents’ advice,
but whoever makes fun of wisdom won’t listen to correction.
2 People will be rewarded for what they say,
but those who can’t be trusted want only violence.
3 Those who are careful about what they say protect their lives,
but whoever speaks without thinking will be ruined.
4 The lazy will not get what they want,
but those who work hard will.
5 Good people hate what is false,
but the wicked do shameful and disgraceful things.
6 Doing what is right protects the honest person,
but doing evil ruins the sinner.
7 Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing.
Others pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.
8 The rich may have to pay a ransom for their lives,
but the poor will face no such danger.
9 Good people can look forward to a bright future,
but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out.
10 Pride only leads to arguments,
but those who take advice are wise.
11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly,
but money that is gathered little by little will grow.
12 It is sad not to get what you hoped for.
But wishes that come true are like eating fruit from the tree of life.
13 Those who reject what they are taught will pay for it,
but those who obey what they are told will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise person gives life.
It is like a fountain that can save people from death.
15 People with good understanding will be well liked,
but the lives of those who are not trustworthy are hard.
16 Every wise person acts with good sense,
but fools show how foolish they are.
17 A wicked messenger brings nothing but trouble,
but a trustworthy one makes everything right.
18 A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.
19 It is so good when wishes come true,
but fools hate to stop doing evil.
20 Spend time with the wise and you will become wise,
but the friends of fools will suffer.
21 Trouble always comes to sinners,
but good people enjoy success.
22 Good people leave their wealth to their grandchildren,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for good people.
23 A poor person’s field might produce plenty of food,
but others often steal it away.
24 If you do not punish your children, you don’t love them,
but if you love your children, you will correct them.
25 Good people have enough to eat,
but the wicked will go hungry.
Proverbs 13
New King James Version
Wisdom Loves Righteousness
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
(A)But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 (B)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
3 (C)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 (D)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
5 A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
6 (E)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 (F)There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
(G)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By pride comes nothing but (H)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 (I)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But (J)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who (K)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 (L)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from (M)the snares of death.
15 Good understanding [a]gains (N)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 (O)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But (P)a faithful ambassador brings health.
18 Poverty and shame will come to him who [b]disdains correction,
But (Q)he who regards a rebuke will be honored.
19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 (R)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But (S)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
25 (V)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:15 gives
- Proverbs 13:18 Lit. ignores
- Proverbs 13:23 uncultivated
- Proverbs 13:23 Lit. what is swept away
- Proverbs 13:24 early
Proverbs 13
King James Version
13 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He that keepeth 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 is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
Proverbs 13
English Standard Version
13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man (B)eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous (C)is for violence.
3 (D)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
(E)he who opens wide his lips (F)comes to ruin.
4 (G)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent (H)is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame[a] and disgrace.
6 (I)Righteousness guards him whose (J)way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 (K)One pretends to be rich,[b] yet has nothing;
(L)another pretends to be poor,[c] yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man (M)hears no threat.
9 (N)The light of the righteous rejoices,
but (O)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 (P)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 (Q)Wealth gained hastily[d] will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
(R)but a desire fulfilled is (S)a tree of life.
13 Whoever (T)despises (U)the word[e] brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment[f] will be (V)rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is (W)a fountain of life,
that one may (X)turn away from the snares of death.
15 (Y)Good sense wins (Z)favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.[g]
16 (AA)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
(AB)but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but (AC)a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who (AD)ignores instruction,
(AE)but whoever (AF)heeds reproof is honored.
19 (AG)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 (AH)Disaster[h] pursues sinners,
(AI)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 (AJ)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
but (AK)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 (AL)injustice.
24 (AM)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.[i]
25 (AN)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:5 Or stench
- Proverbs 13:7 Or One makes himself rich
- Proverbs 13:7 Or another makes himself poor
- Proverbs 13:11 Or by fraud
- Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
- Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment
- Proverbs 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut
- Proverbs 13:21 Or Evil
- Proverbs 13:24 Or who loves him disciplines him early
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
