13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(C)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(D)

The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(E)

The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked act disgustingly and disgracefully.

Righteousness guards people of integrity,[a]
but wickedness undermines the sinner.(F)

One man pretends to be rich but has nothing;(G)
another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.(H)

Riches are a ransom for a man’s life,(I)
but a poor man hears no threat.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,(J)
but the lamp of the wicked is put out.(K)

10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(L)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(M)
but whoever earns it through labor[b] will multiply it.(N)

12 Delayed hope makes the heart sick,
but fulfilled desire is a tree of life.(O)

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(P)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(Q)

14 A wise man’s instruction is a fountain of life,(R)
turning people away from the snares of death.(S)

15 Good sense wins favor,(T)
but the way of the treacherous never changes.[c]

16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(U)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.(V)

18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.(W)

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil(X)
is an abomination to fools.

20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.(Y)

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[d] grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(Z)

23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.

24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,(AA)
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.(AB)

25 A righteous man eats until he is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:6 Lit guards integrity of way
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon [his] hand
  3. Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Tg read treacherous will perish
  4. Proverbs 13:22 Or inheritance: his

Wisdom Loves Righteousness

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
(A)But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

(B)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
(C)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

(D)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
(E)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

(F)There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.

The light of the righteous rejoices,
(G)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By pride comes nothing but (H)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 (I)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But (J)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 He who (K)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 (L)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from (M)the snares of death.

15 Good understanding [a]gains (N)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 (O)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But (P)a faithful ambassador brings health.

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who [b]disdains correction,
But (Q)he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 (R)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But (S)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 (T)Much food is in the [c]fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is [d]waste.

24 (U)He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him [e]promptly.

25 (V)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 gives
  2. Proverbs 13:18 Lit. ignores
  3. Proverbs 13:23 uncultivated
  4. Proverbs 13:23 Lit. what is swept away
  5. Proverbs 13:24 early