Beginning
Guard the Way of Integrity
13 A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good things,
but the treacherous crave violence.
3 He who watches his mouth protects his life,
but whoever opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The slacker’s soul craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent soul will be satisfied.
5 A righteous person hates lying,
but the wicked acts in shameful disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards one who walks in integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.[a]
8 A man’s riches may ransom his life,
but a poor person hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly.
The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Arrogance yields nothing but strife.
Wisdom belongs to those who take advice.
11 Wealth gained by fraud dwindles,
but he who gathers by labor increases it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises instruction will pay a penalty,
but whoever respects a mitzvah will be rewarded.
14 Wise instruction is a fountain of life,
turning one away from snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Everyone shrewd acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts folly.
The Wise and the Foolish
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 He who spurns discipline comes to poverty and shame,
but whoever accepts correction will be honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning away from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men is wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 The fallow field of the poor yields much food,
but it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent with discipline.[b]
25 The righteous eats to his heart’s content,
but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
Wisdom Builds Up, Folly Tears Down
14 A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 The one who walks uprightly fears Adonai,
but one devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean,
but from the strength of the ox comes an abundant harvest.
5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom yet finds none,
but knowledge is easy to the discerning.
7 Walk away from a fool—
for you will find no knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to consider his way,
but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock guilt of sin,
but among the upright is goodwill.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be demolished,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 A backsliding heart partakes of its ways,
and a good man is rewarded for his.
15 The naïve believes every word,
but the shrewd discerns his steps.
16 The wise fears and turns away from evil,
but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17 One with a short temper acts foolishly,
and one with crafty schemes is hated.
18 The naïve inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men will bow in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Poverty and Riches
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
but many are those who love the rich.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever is gracious to the needy is blessed.
22 Indeed those who plot evil go astray
but grace and truth come to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools is foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is treacherous.
26 In the fear of Adonai one has strong confidence.
It will be a refuge for His children.
27 The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s glory,
but lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
29 One who is slow to anger shows great understanding,
but a quick-tempered one exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but envy is rottenness to the bones.
31 The one who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity
yet the righteous has a refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning,
and even among fools she is known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king shows favor toward a servant who acts wisely,
but his wrath is on one who is disgraceful.
Tongue of the Wise
15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly,
but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of Adonai are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.
4 A healing tongue is a tree of life,
but a deceitful one crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but one who accepts reproof is smart.
6 The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Adonai,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
Pursue Righteousness and Reproof
9 Adonai detests the way of the wicked,
but loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Stern correction awaits one who forsakes the way.
One who hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon[c] are before Adonai—
how much more the hearts of people!
12 A mocker dislikes one who corrects him;
he will not go to the wise.
Heart Attitude Matters
13 A joyful heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of Adonai
than great wealth with turmoil.
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love,
than a fattened ox where there is hatred.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
19 The way of the slacker is a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise child brings joy to his father,
but a foolish person despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one who lacks sense,
but one with discernment walks straight.
22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person has joy in an appropriate answer—
how good is a timely word.
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise
to keep him from going down to Sheol.
25 Adonai tears down a proud man’s house,
but He maintains the widow’s boundary.
26 Evil thoughts are an abomination to Adonai,
but pleasant words are pure.
27 One greedy for gain troubles his household,
but whoever hates bribes will live.
28 A righteous heart thinks before answering,
but a wicked mouth blurts out evil things.
29 Adonai is far from the wicked,
but hears the prayer of the righteous.[d]
30 Bright eyes bring joy to the heart.
Good news gives health to the bones.
31 One whose ear heeds
a life-giving reproof dwells among the wise.
32 Whoever avoids correction despises himself,
but whoever heeds reproof acquires understanding.
33 The fear of Adonai is the discipline of wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.