13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(C)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(D)

The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(E)

The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked bring disgust and shame.

Righteousness guards people of integrity,[a]
but wickedness undermines the sinner.(F)

One person pretends to be rich but has nothing;(G)
another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.(H)

Riches are a ransom for a person’s life,(I)
but a poor person hears no threat.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,(J)
but the lamp of the wicked is put out.(K)

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 labor[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)

15 Good sense wins favor,(T)
but the way of the treacherous never changes.[c]

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 honored.(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)

14 Every wise woman builds her house,(AD)
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.(AE)

Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,(AF)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.(AG)

The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[e]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(AH)

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,[f]
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.(AI)

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(AJ)

The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

Fools mock at making reparation,[g]
but there is goodwill among the upright.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no outsider shares in its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.(AK)

12 There is a way that seems right to a person,(AL)
but its end is the way to death.(AM)

13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.(AN)

14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good one, what his deeds deserve.(AO)

15 The inexperienced one believes anything,(AP)
but the sensible one watches[h] his steps.

16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil,(AQ)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[i]

17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
and one who schemes is hated.(AR)

18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before those who are good,
and the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,(AS)
but there are many who love the rich.(AT)

21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,(AU)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(AV)

22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?(AW)
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.(AX)

23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk[j] leads only to poverty.(AY)

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

25 A truthful witness rescues lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.(AZ)

26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.(BA)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.(BB)

28 A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

29 A patient person shows great understanding,(BC)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(BD)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(BE)

31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,(BF)
but one who is kind to the needy honors him.(BG)

32 The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,(BH)
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.(BI)

33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;(BJ)
she is known[k] even among fools.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.(BK)

35 A king favors a prudent servant,(BL)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

15 A gentle answer turns away anger,(BM)
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.(BN)

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.(BO)

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.(BP)

The tongue that heals is a tree of life,(BQ)
but a devious tongue[l] breaks the spirit.

A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.(BR)

The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,(BS)
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(BT)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(BU)

10 Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord(BV)
how much more, human hearts.(BW)

12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;(BX)
he will not consult the wise.

13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(BY)

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,(BZ)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.(CA)

15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(CB)

17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox(CC) with hatred.(CD)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(CE)
but one slow to anger(CF) calms strife.

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.(CG)

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.(CH)

21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,
but a person with understanding walks a straight path.(CI)

22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.(CJ)

23 A person takes joy in giving an answer;[m]
and a timely word—how good that is!(CK)

24 For the prudent the path of life leads upward,
so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

25 The Lord tears apart the house of the proud,
but he protects the widow’s territory.(CL)

26 The Lord detests the plans of the one who is evil,
but pleasant words are pure.(CM)

27 The one who profits dishonestly(CN) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(CO)

28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,(CP)
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.(CQ)

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,(CR)
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(CS)

30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[n] the bones.(CT)

31 One who[o] listens to life-giving rebukes(CU)
will be at home among the wise.

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,(CV)
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.[p](CW)

33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.(CX)

Footnotes

  1. 13:6 Lit guards integrity of way
  2. 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon his hand
  3. 13:15 LXX, Syr, Tg read treacherous will perish
  4. 13:22 Or inheritance: his
  5. 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back
  6. 14:4 Or clean
  7. 14:9 Or at guilt offerings
  8. 14:15 Lit the prudent understands
  9. 14:16 Or and falls
  10. 14:23 Lit but word of lips
  11. 14:33 LXX reads unknown
  12. 15:4 Lit but crookedness in it
  13. 15:23 Lit in an answer of his mouth
  14. 15:30 Lit makes fat
  15. 15:31 Lit An ear that
  16. 15:32 Lit acquires a heart

Our Future after Death

For we know that if our earthly tent we live in(A) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens,(B) not made with hands.(C) Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring(D) to put on our heavenly dwelling, since, when we are clothed,[a] we will not be found naked.(E) Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality(F) may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith,(G) not by sight.(H) In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(I) Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing(J) to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat(K) of Christ,(L) so that each may be repaid(M) for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,(N) we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind,(O) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,(P) it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,(Q) and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all(R) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,(S) but for the one(T) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.[b] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,[c] yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;(U) the old has passed away, and see,(V) the new has[d] come!(W) 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.(X) 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world(Y) to himself,(Z) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors(AA) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,(AB) “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin(AC) to be sin[e] for us,(AD) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Footnotes

  1. 5:3 Other mss read when we have taken it off
  2. 5:16 Lit anyone according to the flesh
  3. 5:16 Lit Christ according to the flesh
  4. 5:17 Other mss read look, all new things have
  5. 5:21 Or be a sin offering

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