Proverbs 13
1 A wise son is obedient to his father: but a disobedient son will be destroyed.
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 A good [man] shall eat of the fruits of righteousness: but the lives of transgressors shall perish before their time.
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is 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 protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
4 Every slothful man desires, but the hands of the active are diligent.
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
5 A righteous man hates an unjust word: but an ungodly man is ashamed, and will have no confidence.
The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines 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.
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 A man's own wealth is the ransom of his life: but the poor endures not threatening.
Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
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 extinguished.
10 A bad man does evil with insolence: but they that are judges of themselves are wise.
Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
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.
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
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 desire fulfilled 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.
He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one 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 fountain of life, turning one 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 faithless is difficult.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge: but the fool displays his own mischief.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
17 A rash king shall fall into mischief: but a wise messenger shall deliver him.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Instruction removes poverty and disgrace: but he that attends to reproofs shall be honoured.
Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 The desires of the godly gladden the soul, but the works of the ungodly are far from knowledge.
Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
20 If you walk with wise men you shall be wise: but he that walks with fools shall be known.
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 Evil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.
Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of 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 sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
23 The righteous shall spend many years in wealth: but the unrighteous shall perish suddenly.
Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
24 He that spares the rod hates his son: but he that loves, carefully chastens [him].
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 A just [man] eats and satisfies his soul: but the souls of the ungodly are in lack.
A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
