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Proverbs 13
Easy-to-Read Version
Proverbs 13
Easy-to-Read Version
13 A wise son listens to his father’s advice, but a proud son will not listen to correction.
2 People get good things for the words they say, but those who cannot be trusted say only bad things.
3 People who are careful about what they say will save their lives, but those who speak without thinking will be destroyed.
4 Lazy people always want things but never get them. Those who work hard get plenty.
5 Good people hate lies, but the wicked do evil, shameful things.
6 Goodness protects honest people, but evil destroys those who love to sin.
7 Some people pretend they are rich, but they have nothing. Others pretend they are poor, but they are really rich.
8 The rich might have to pay a ransom to save their lives, but the poor never receive such threats.
9 The light of those who do right shines brighter and brighter, but the lamp of the wicked becomes darker and darker.[a]
10 Pride causes arguments, but those who listen to others are wise.
11 Money gained by cheating others will soon be gone. Money earned through hard work will grow and grow.
12 Hope that is delayed makes you sad, but a wish that comes true fills you with joy.
13 Those who reject a command hurt themselves; those who respect a command will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a source of life; their words will save you from deadly traps.
15 People like a person with good sense, but life is hard for someone who cannot be trusted.
16 Wise people always think before they do anything, but fools show how stupid they are by what they do.
17 Disaster will catch up to the wicked messenger, but a runner who can be trusted will bring peace.
18 If you refuse to learn from your mistakes, you will be poor, and no one will respect you. If you listen when you are criticized, you will be honored.
19 People are happy when they get what they want. But stupid people want nothing but evil, and they refuse to change.
20 Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.
21 Trouble chases sinners wherever they go, but good things happen to good people.
22 It is good to have something to pass down to your grandchildren. But wealth hidden away by sinners will be given to those who live right.
23 The poor might have good land that produces plenty of food, but bad decisions can take it away.[b]
24 If you don’t correct your children, you don’t love them. If you love them, you will be quick to discipline them.
25 Good people will have plenty to eat, but the wicked will go hungry.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:9 Or “The light of those who do right is happy; the lamp of the wicked goes out.”
- Proverbs 13:23 Or “The fields of the poor might produce plenty of food, but the unjust often take it away.”
Proverbs 13
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Proverbs 13
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)
3 The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(C)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(D)
4 The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(E)
5 The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked bring disgust and shame.
7 One person pretends to be rich but has nothing;(G)
another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.(H)
8 Riches are a ransom for a person’s life,(I)
but a poor person hears no threat.
10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(L)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.
11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(M)
but whoever earns it through labour[b] will multiply it.(N)
12 Hope delayed makes the heart sick,
but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.(O)
13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(P)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(Q)
14 A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life,(R)
turning people away from the snares of death.(S)
16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(U)
17 A wicked envoy falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.(V)
18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honoured.(W)
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.(X)
20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.(Y)
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[d] grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(Z)
23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.
24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,(AA)
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.(AB)
25 A righteous person eats until he is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.(AC)
Proverbs 13
New International Version
Proverbs 13
New International Version
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)
2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)
4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate what is false,(G)
but the wicked make themselves a stench
and bring shame on themselves.
6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)
7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)
8 A person’s riches may ransom their life,
but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(L)
10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(M)
11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(N)
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(O)
15 Good judgment wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]
18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(Y)
but whoever heeds correction is honored.(Z)
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(AA)
but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.(AB)
22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(AF)
23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24 Whoever spares the rod(AG) hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(AH) them.(AI)
25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised (CSBA)
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.