Proverbs 13

1 A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence.

By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.

3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4 A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

5 A righteous [man] hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame.

A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great 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 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke.

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10 By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.

11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it].

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire [that] cometh to pass is a tree of life.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise [man] is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.

The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard.

Good understanding wins favour, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly.

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

18 Poverty and shame shall be [to] him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.

Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

20 He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

21 Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous [man].

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment.

An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want.

The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.