Proverbs 13
1 A wise son [heareth] his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of [his] mouth: but the soul of the transgressors [shall eat] violence.
A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
5 A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth [him that is] upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet [hath] nothing: [there is] that maketh himself poor, yet [hath] great riches.
A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life [are] his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.
The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life.
Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors [is] hard.
Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction.
16 Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.
A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador [is] health.
A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.
18 Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil.
To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.
20 He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
22 A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.
The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man.
23 Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor: but there is [that is] destroyed for want of judgment.
There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
