13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)

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)

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(P)
    but whoever respects(Q) a command is rewarded.(R)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(T)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
    but fools expose(U) their folly.(V)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(W)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(X)

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)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(AC)
    but the righteous(AD) are rewarded with good things.(AE)

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)

14 The wise woman builds her house,(AK)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(AL)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(AM)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(AN) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(AO)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(AP)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(AQ)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(AR)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

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

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(AU)
    but in the end it leads to death.(AV)

13 Even in laughter(AW) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(AX)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(AY)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(AZ)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(BA)
    but a fool(BB) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(BC) does foolish things,(BD)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(BE)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(BF)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(BG)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(BH)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(BI)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(BJ)
    But those who plan what is good find[c] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(BK)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(BL)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(BM)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(BN)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(BO)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(BP)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(BQ)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(BR)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(BS)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(BT)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(BU)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(BV)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(BW)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(BX)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(BY)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[d]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(BZ)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(CA)

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

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(CD)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(CE)

The eyes(CF) of the Lord are everywhere,(CG)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(CH)

The soothing tongue(CI) is a tree of life,(CJ)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(CK)

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(CL)

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(CM)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(CN)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(CO)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

The Lord detests the sacrifice(CP) of the wicked,(CQ)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(CR)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(CS)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(CT)

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(CU)

11 Death and Destruction[e] lie open before the Lord(CV)
    how much more do human hearts!(CW)

12 Mockers resent correction,(CX)
    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(CY)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(CZ)

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(DA)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(DB)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(DC)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(DD)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(DE)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(DF)

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(DG)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

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

21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,(DI)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(DJ)
    but with many advisers(DK) they succeed.(DL)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(DM)
    and how good is a timely word!(DN)

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(DO)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(DP)

26 The Lord detests the thoughts(DQ) of the wicked,(DR)
    but gracious words are pure(DS) in his sight.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(DT)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(DU)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(DV)

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

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(DX)

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(DY)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(DZ)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(EA)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(EB)
    and humility comes before honor.(EC)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
  3. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  4. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
  5. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon

Walk with the Wise

13 Intelligent children listen to their parents;
    foolish children do their own thing.

The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation;
    bullies push and shove their way through life.

Careful words make for a careful life;
    careless talk may ruin everything.

Indolence wants it all and gets nothing;
    the energetic have something to show for their lives.

A good person hates false talk;
    a bad person wallows in gibberish.

A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
    sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
    a plain and simple life is a full life.

The rich can be sued for everything they have,
    but the poor are free of such threats.

The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
    the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.

10 Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
    but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.

11 Easy come, easy go,
    but steady diligence pays off.

12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
    but a sudden good break can turn life around.

13 Ignore the Word and suffer;
    honor God’s commands and grow rich.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!

15 Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
    but liars walk a rough road.

16 A commonsense person lives good sense;
    fools litter the country with silliness.

17 Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
    but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.

18 Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
    embrace correction and live an honored life.

19 Souls who follow their hearts thrive;
    fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.

20 Become wise by walking with the wise;
    hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

21 Disaster entraps sinners,
    but God-loyal people get a good life.

22 A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren;
    ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.

23 Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor,
    or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.

24 A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
    love your children by disciplining them.

25 An appetite for good brings much satisfaction,
    but the belly of the wicked always wants more.

A Way That Leads to Hell

14 Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
    Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.

An honest life shows respect for God;
    a degenerate life is a slap in his face.

Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
    wise speech evokes nothing but respect.

No cattle, no crops;
    a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.

A true witness never lies;
    a false witness makes a business of it.

Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
    the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!

Escape quickly from the company of fools;
    they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.

The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
    the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.

The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
    but a moral life is a favored life.

10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
    will be an outsider at their celebrations.

11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are run-down shacks;
    holy living builds soaring cathedrals.

12-13 There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
    look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
    but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.

Sift and Weigh Every Word

14 A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
    a gracious person in grace.

15 The gullible believe anything they’re told;
    the prudent sift and weigh every word.

16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
    fools are headstrong and reckless.

17 The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
    the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.

18 Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
    wise realists plant their feet on the ground.

19 Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
    the wicked will respect God-loyal people.

20 An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
    but everyone loves a winner.

21 It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
    but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!

22 Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
    while the thoughtful win love and trust?

23 Hard work always pays off;
    mere talk puts no bread on the table.

24 The wise accumulate wisdom;
    fools get stupider by the day.

25 Souls are saved by truthful witness
    and betrayed by the spread of lies.

26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
    and makes a world safe for your children.

27 The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
    so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.

28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
    leadership is nothing without a following.

29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
    a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.

30 A sound mind makes for a robust body,
    but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
    when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.

32 The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
    the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.

33 Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
    fools never even get to say hello.

34 God-devotion makes a country strong;
    God-avoidance leaves people weak.

35 Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
    shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.

God Doesn’t Miss a Thing

15 A gentle response defuses anger,
    but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
    fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

God doesn’t miss a thing—
    he’s alert to good and evil alike.

Kind words heal and help;
    cutting words wound and maim.

Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders;
    welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

The lives of God-loyal people flourish;
    a misspent life is soon bankrupt.

Perceptive words spread knowledge;
    fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.

God can’t stand pious poses,
    but he delights in genuine prayers.

A life frittered away disgusts God;
    he loves those who run straight for the finish line.

10 It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path,
    a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.

11 Even hell holds no secrets from God
    do you think he can’t read human hearts?

Life Ascends to the Heights

12 Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
    they avoid the company of wise men and women.

13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
    a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;
    fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

15 A miserable heart means a miserable life;
    a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God
    is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.

17 Better a bread crust shared in love
    than a slab of prime rib served in hate.

18 Hot tempers start fights;
    a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
    the diligent walk down a smooth road.

20 Intelligent children make their parents proud;
    lazy students embarrass their parents.

21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
    the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.

22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
    take good counsel and watch them succeed.

23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
    The right word at the right time—beautiful!

24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
    it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.

25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
    he stands with those who have no standing.

26 God can’t stand evil scheming,
    but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.

27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community;
    those who refuse to exploit live and let live.

28 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;
    the wicked are sewers of abuse.

29 God keeps his distance from the wicked;
    he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.

30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
    and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.

31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well,
    an honored guest among wise men and women.

32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;
    an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.

33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
    first you learn humility, then you experience glory.