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Proverbs 13
New Life Version
Proverbs 13
New Life Version
13 A wise son listens when his father tells him the right way, but one who laughs at the truth does not listen when strong words are spoken to him.
2 The one who is careful what he says will have good come to him, but the one who wants to hurt others will have trouble.
3 He who watches over his mouth keeps his life. He who opens his lips wide will be destroyed.
4 The soul of the lazy person has strong desires but gets nothing, but the soul of the one who does his best gets more than he needs.
5 A man who is right with God hates lies, but the actions of a sinful man are hated and he is put to shame.
6 What is right and good watches over the one whose way is without blame, but sin destroys the sinful.
7 There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, but has many riches.
8 A rich man can use his riches to save his life, but the poor man does not hear strong words spoken to him.
9 Those who are right with God are full of light, but the lamp of the sinful will be put out.
10 Fighting comes only from pride, but wisdom is with those who listen when told what they should do.
11 Riches taken by false ways become less and less, but riches grow for the one who gathers by hard work.
12 Hope that is put off makes the heart sick, but a desire that comes into being is a tree of life.
13 He who hates the Word is under its power, but he who fears the Word will be well paid.
14 The teaching of the wise is a well of life, to save one from the nets of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the sinful is hard.
16 Every wise man acts with much learning, but a fool makes his foolish way known.
17 A sinful helper falls into trouble, but a faithful helper brings healing.
18 He who will not listen to strong teaching will become poor and ashamed, but he who listens when strong words are spoken will be honored.
19 A desire that is filled is sweet to the soul, but fools hate to give up what is sinful.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.
21 Trouble follows sinners, but good things will be given to those who are right with God.
22 A good man leaves what he owns for his children’s children. The riches of the sinner are stored up for those who are right with God.
23 Much food is in the plowed land of the poor, but it is taken away because of wrong-doing.
24 He who does not punish his son when he needs it hates him, but he who loves him will punish him when he needs it.
25 The man who is right with God has all the food he needs, but the stomach of the sinful man never has enough.
Proverbs 13
English Standard Version
Proverbs 13
English Standard Version
13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man (B)eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous (C)is for violence.
3 (D)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
(E)he who opens wide his lips (F)comes to ruin.
4 (G)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent (H)is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame[a] and disgrace.
6 (I)Righteousness guards him whose (J)way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 (K)One pretends to be rich,[b] yet has nothing;
(L)another pretends to be poor,[c] yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man (M)hears no threat.
9 (N)The light of the righteous rejoices,
but (O)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 (P)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 (Q)Wealth gained hastily[d] will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
(R)but a desire fulfilled is (S)a tree of life.
13 Whoever (T)despises (U)the word[e] brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment[f] will be (V)rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is (W)a fountain of life,
that one may (X)turn away from the snares of death.
15 (Y)Good sense wins (Z)favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.[g]
16 (AA)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
(AB)but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but (AC)a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who (AD)ignores instruction,
(AE)but whoever (AF)heeds reproof is honored.
19 (AG)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 (AH)Disaster[h] pursues sinners,
(AI)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 (AJ)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
but (AK)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through (AL)injustice.
24 (AM)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.[i]
25 (AN)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:5 Or stench
- Proverbs 13:7 Or One makes himself rich
- Proverbs 13:7 Or another makes himself poor
- Proverbs 13:11 Or by fraud
- Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
- Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment
- Proverbs 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut
- Proverbs 13:21 Or Evil
- Proverbs 13:24 Or who loves him disciplines him early
Proverbs 13
New International Version
Proverbs 13
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)
15 Good judgment wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]
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)
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)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
New Life Version (NLV)
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
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