Proverbs 13

Modern English Version

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

² A man will eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
    but the soul of the transgressor will eat violence.

³ He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
    but he who opens wide his lips will have destruction.

⁴ The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing;
    but the soul of the diligent will be made fat.

⁵ A righteous man hates lying,
    but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

⁶ Righteousness keeps him who is upright in the way,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷ There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
    there is one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

⁸ The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
    but the poor does not hear rebuke.

⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

¹⁰ Only by pride comes contention,
    but with the well-advised is wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth gained by vanity will be diminished,
    but he who gathers by labor will increase.

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

¹³ Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,
    but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    to depart from the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding gives favor,
    but the way of transgressors is hard.

¹⁶ Every prudent man deals with knowledge,
    but a fool lays open his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into mischief,
    but a faithful envoy is health.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame will be to him who refuses instruction,
    but he who regards reproof will be honored.

¹⁹ The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
    but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise,
    but a companion of fools will be destroyed.

²¹ Evil pursues sinners,
    but to the righteous good will be repaid.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
    and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

²³ Much food is in the tillage of the poor,
    but for lack of justice it is destroyed.

²⁴ He who spares his rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him disciplines him early.

²⁵ The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
    but the stomach of the wicked will want.