Proverbs 13-15

New International Version

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.^(A)

² From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,^(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

³ Those who guard their lips^(C) preserve their lives,^(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.^(E)

⁴ A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,^(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

⁵ The righteous hate what is false,^(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

⁶ Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.^(H)

⁷ One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;^(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.^(J)

⁸ A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.^(K)

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

¹⁰ Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.^(M)

¹¹ Dishonest money dwindles away,^(N)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.^(O)

¹³ Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,^(P)
    but whoever respects^(Q) a command is rewarded.^(R)

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,^(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(T)

¹⁵ Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.^[a]

¹⁶ All who are prudent act with^[b] knowledge,
    but fools expose^(U) their folly.^(V)

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,^(W)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.^(X)

¹⁸ Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,^(Y)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.^(Z)

¹⁹ A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,^(AA)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.^(AB)

²¹ Trouble pursues the sinner,^(AC)
    but the righteous^(AD) are rewarded with good things.^(AE)

²² A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.^(AF)

²³ An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴ Whoever spares the rod^(AG) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline^(AH) them.^(AI)

²⁵ The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.^(AJ)

14 The wise woman builds her house,^(AK)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

² Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

³ A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,^(AL)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.^(AM)

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox^(AN) come abundant harvests.

⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.^(AO)

⁶ The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.^(AP)

⁷ Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,^(AQ)
    but the folly of fools is deception.^(AR)

⁹ Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,^(AS)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.^(AT)

¹² There is a way that appears to be right,^(AU)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(AV)

¹³ Even in laughter^(AW) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,^(AX)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.^(AY)

¹⁵ The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.^(AZ)

¹⁶ The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,^(BA)
    but a fool^(BB) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

¹⁷ A quick-tempered person^(BC) does foolish things,^(BD)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.^(BE)

¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.^(BF)

²⁰ The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.^(BG)

²¹ It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,^(BH)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.^(BI)

²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?^(BJ)
    But those who plan what is good find^[c] love and faithfulness.

²³ All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.^(BK)

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.^(BL)

²⁶ Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,^(BM)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.^(BN)

²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,^(BO)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(BP)

²⁸ A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.^(BQ)

²⁹ Whoever is patient has great understanding,^(BR)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.^(BS)

³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.^(BT)

³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,^(BU)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.^(BV)

³² When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,^(BW)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.^(BX)

³³ Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning^(BY)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.^[d]

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,^(BZ)
    but sin condemns any people.

³⁵ A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.^(CA)

15 A gentle answer^(CB) turns away wrath,^(CC)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,^(CD)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.^(CE)

³ The eyes^(CF) of the Lord are everywhere,^(CG)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.^(CH)

⁴ The soothing tongue^(CI) is a tree of life,^(CJ)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.^(CK)

⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.^(CL)

⁶ The house of the righteous contains great treasure,^(CM)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.^(CN)

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,^(CO)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifice^(CP) of the wicked,^(CQ)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.^(CR)

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,^(CS)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.^(CT)

¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.^(CU)

¹¹ Death and Destruction^[e] lie open before the Lord^(CV)—
    how much more do human hearts!^(CW)

¹² Mockers resent correction,^(CX)
    so they avoid the wise.

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,^(CY)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.^(CZ)

¹⁴ The discerning heart seeks knowledge,^(DA)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

¹⁵ All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.^(DB)

¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.^(DC)

¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.^(DD)

¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^(DE)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.^(DF)

¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,^(DG)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰ A wise son brings joy to his father,^(DH)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹ Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,^(DI)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

²² Plans fail for lack of counsel,^(DJ)
    but with many advisers^(DK) they succeed.^(DL)

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^(DM)—
    and how good is a timely word!^(DN)

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,^(DO)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.^(DP)

²⁶ The Lord detests the thoughts^(DQ) of the wicked,^(DR)
    but gracious words are pure^(DS) in his sight.

²⁷ The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.^(DT)

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,^(DU)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.^(DV)

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.^(DW)

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.^(DX)

³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.^(DY)

³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,^(DZ)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.^(EA)

³³ Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,^(EB)
    and humility comes before honor.^(EC)