Proverbs 13
1 A wise son is obedient to his father: but a disobedient son will be destroyed.
A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 A good [man] shall eat of the fruits of righteousness: but the lives of transgressors shall perish before their time.
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
3 He that keeps his own mouth keeps his own life: but he that is hasty with his lips shall bring terror upon himself.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 Every slothful man desires, but the hands of the active are diligent.
The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
5 A righteous man hates an unjust word: but an ungodly man is ashamed, and will have no confidence.
A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There are [some] who, having nothing, enrich themselves: and there are [some] who bring themselves down in [the midst of] much wealth.
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
8 A man's own wealth is the ransom of his life: but the poor endures not threatening.
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.
9 The righteous always have light: but the light of the ungodly is quenched. Crafty souls go astray in sins: but just men pity, and are merciful.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 A bad man does evil with insolence: but they that are judges of themselves are wise.
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.
11 Wealth gotten hastily with iniquity is diminished: but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall be increased. The righteous is merciful, and lends.
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
12 Better is he that begins to help heartily, than he that promises and leads [another] to hope: for a good desire is a tree of life.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13 He that slights a matter shall be slighted of it: but he that fears the commandment has health [of soul]. To a crafty son there shall be nothing good: but a wise servant shall have prosperous doings, and his way shall be directed aright.
Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is fountain of life: but the man void of understanding shall die by a snare.
The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.
15 Sound discretion gives favour, and to know the law is the part of a sound understanding: but the ways of scorners tend to destruction.
Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge: but the fool displays his own mischief.
Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
17 A rash king shall fall into mischief: but a wise messenger shall deliver him.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
18 Instruction removes poverty and disgrace: but he that attends to reproofs shall be honoured.
Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
19 The desires of the godly gladden the soul, but the works of the ungodly are far from knowledge.
Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20 If thou walkest with wise men thou shalt be wise: but he that walks with fools shall be known.
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Evil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good man shall inherit children's children; and the wealth of ungodly men is laid up for the just.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23 The righteous shall spend many years in wealth: but the unrighteous shall perish suddenly.
An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 He that spares the rod hates his son: but he that loves, carefully chastens [him].
One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 A just [man] eats and satisfies his soul: but the souls of the ungodly are in want.
The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
