Proverbs 13

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

Children who are wise (pay attention/heed it) when their parents discipline/correct them; but foolish children do not pay attention when someone rebukes them [for their bad behavior].

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

Good people are rewarded [IDM] for the good things [MET] that they say, but those who desire to deceive others are [very] eager to act violently.

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

Those who are [very] careful about what they say [MTY] will live a long life; those who talk (without thinking/too much) will ruin themselves.

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

People who are lazy want things very much, but they will not get anything [HYP]. People who work hard will get all that they want.

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

Righteous/Honest people hate/detest lies, but what wicked people do (is very disgraceful/stinks) [DOU].

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

The behavior [PRS] of those who always do what is right will protect them, but sinful [behavior will] ruin wicked people.

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

Some people who have nothing pretend to be rich, but other people who are very rich pretend to be poor.

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

Rich people are able to pay people who want to kill them, [with the result that they will be protected, not killed], but poor people [do not have to worry about that because] no one threatens to kill them.

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

Righteous [people] are like a lamp [MET] that shines brightly, but wicked [people] are like [MET] a lamp that will [soon] be extinguished.

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

[People] who are arrogant/proud [always] cause strife; those who are wise ask [other people] for good advice.

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

Those who acquire a lot of money quickly [by doing what is wrong, probably] will lose it [quickly], but if people earn money slowly, the amount of money they have will increase.

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

When people do not receive the things that they are expecting to receive, (it causes them to despair/they become very sad); but if you receive what you are desiring to get, that [will be like a tree] [MET] [whose fruit gives you] life (OR, that will cause you to be joyful).

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

Those who despise [the good] advice [that others give them] are bringing ruin on themselves; those who pay attention to that advice will (be secure/succeed).

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

What wise [people] teach is [like] a fountain whose [water] gives life [MET]; what they teach you will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].

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

[People] respect those who have good sense, but those who cannot be trusted are on the road to being ruined/destroyed (OR, will have a lot of difficulties/troubles).

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

Those who have good sense always think carefully/wisely before they do something; foolish people show [by what they say and do] that they are foolish.

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

Messengers who are not reliable cause trouble, but those who faithfully [deliver their messages] cause people to act peacefully.

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

Those who refuse to pay attention when others discipline/correct them will become poor and disgraced; [people] respect those who accept it when they are rebuked [for their bad behavior].

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

It is delightful to receive what we desire; foolish people hate/refuse to turn away from doing evil.

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

Those who habitually associate with wise people become wise; those who (are close friends of/associate with) foolish people will (regret it/be ruined).

21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

Sinners have trouble [PRS] wherever they go, but things will go well for righteous [people].

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

When good people [die], their grandchildren inherit their money; but when sinners [die], the money that they had will end up in the hands of righteous [people].

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

[Sometimes] poor [people’s] fields produce plenty of food, but unjust people take away all that food.

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

Those who do not punish their children [for bad behavior] do not [really] love them; those who love their children start to discipline them when the children are still young.

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

Righteous [people] have enough food to eat and be satisfied, but the stomachs of wicked [people] [SYN] are [always] empty.