Proverbs 13-15

Christian Standard Bible

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.

⁶ Righteousness guards people of integrity,^[a]
but wickedness undermines the sinner.^(F)

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.

⁹ 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)

² Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,^(AF)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.^(AG)

³ The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,^[e]
but the lips of the wise protect them.^(AH)

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,^[f]
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.^(AI)

⁶ A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

⁷ Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.^(AJ)

⁸ The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

⁹ 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)

² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.^(BO)

³ The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.^(BP)

⁴ The tongue that heals is a tree of life,^(BQ)
but a devious tongue^[l] breaks the spirit.

⁵ A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.^(BR)

⁶ The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

⁷ The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,^(BS)
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.^(BT)

⁹ 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)