Add parallel Print Page Options

One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
    One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
    Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
    Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.

Read full chapter

He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,
    and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.[a]
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise and he will love you.
Give to a wise one and he will become more wise;
    teach[b] a righteous one and he will increase learning.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Literally “abuse him”
  2. Proverbs 9:9 Literally “make known to”

10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow,
    but a chattering fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
    but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Read full chapter

10 The winking of an eye causes[a] trouble,
    and the foolishness of lips comes to ruin.
11 A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness,
    and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Or “gives, sets up”

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
    but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

Read full chapter

13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.[a]
14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Literally “heart”

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
    but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

Read full chapter

13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.[a]
14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Literally “heart”

13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
    but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

Read full chapter

13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
    but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.

Read full chapter

13 An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips,
    but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
    The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.

Read full chapter

13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good,
    and the reward of a man’s labor[a] will return to him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:14 Literally “the hands of a man”

16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day,
    but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
17 He who is truthful testifies honestly,
    but a false witness lies.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
    but the tongue of the wise heals.
19 Truth’s lips will be established forever,
    but a lying tongue is only momentary.

Read full chapter

16 As for a fool, on that very day[a] he makes his anger known,
    but he who ignores an insult is prudent.
17 He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness,
    but the witness of falsehood, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 A lip of truth endures forever,
    but a tongue of deception lasts only a moment.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:16 Literally “on the day”

22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,
    but those who do the truth are his delight.
23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

Read full chapter

22 An abomination of Yahweh are lips of deceit,
    but they who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A clever person conceals knowledge,
    but the heart[a] of a fool[b] announces folly.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 12:23 Hebrew “fools”

25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
    but a kind word makes it glad.

Read full chapter

25 Anxiety in the heart[a] of a man will weigh him down,
    but a good word will cheer him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:25 Or “mind”

By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,
    but the unfaithful crave violence.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
    One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Read full chapter

From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good,
    but the desire[a] of the treacherous, wrongdoing.
He who keeps his mouth guards his life;[b]
    he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Or “soul”
  2. Proverbs 13:3 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
    but the lips of the wise protect them.

Read full chapter

In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.

Read full chapter