Proverbs 13

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

A wise son—the instruction of a father, And a scorner—he has not heard rebuke.

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

A man eats good from the fruit of the mouth, And the soul of the treacherous—violence.

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

Whoever is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoever is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!

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

The soul of the slothful is desiring, and does not have. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.

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

The righteous hates a false word, And the wicked causes abhorrence, and is confounded.

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

Righteousness keeps him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthrows a sin offering.

7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

There is [he] who is making himself rich, and has nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.

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

The ransom of a man’s life [are] his riches, And the poor has not heard rebuke.

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

The light of the righteous rejoices, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

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

A vain man causes debate through pride, And wisdom [is] with the counseled.

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

Wealth from vanity becomes little, And whoever is gathering by the hand becomes great.

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

Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.

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

Whoever is despising the word is destroyed for it, And whoever is fearing the command is repaid.

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

The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.

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

Good understanding gives grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.

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

Every prudent one deals with knowledge, And a fool spreads out folly.

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

A wicked messenger falls into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.

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

Whoever is refusing instruction—poverty and shame, And whoever is observing reproof is honored.

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

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [Is] to turn from evil.

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

Whoever is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffers evil.

21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

Evil pursues sinners, And good repays the righteous.

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

A good man causes sons’ sons to inherit, And the sinner’s wealth [is] laid up for the righteous.

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

Abundance of food—the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.

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

Whoever is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoever is loving him has hurried his discipline.

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

The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacks!