Historical
Chapter 13
1 A wise son loves correction,
but the scoffer heeds no rebuke.[a]
2 From the fruit of the mouth one enjoys good things,(A)
but from the throat of the treacherous comes violence.[b]
3 Those who guard their mouths preserve themselves;[c]
those who open wide their lips bring ruin.(B)
4 The appetite of the sluggard craves but has nothing,
but the appetite of the diligent is amply satisfied.
5 The just hate deceitful words,
but the wicked are odious and disgraceful.
6 Justice guards one who walks honestly,
but sin leads the wicked astray.(C)
7 One acts rich but has nothing;
another acts poor but has great wealth.[d]
8 People’s riches serve as ransom for their lives,
but the poor do not even hear a threat.[e]
9 The light of the just gives joy,
but the lamp[f] of the wicked goes out.(D)
10 The stupid sow discord by their insolence,
but wisdom is with those who take counsel.
11 Wealth won quickly dwindles away,
but gathered little by little, it grows.(E)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life.[g]
13 Whoever despises the word must pay for it,[h]
but whoever reveres the command will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.
15 Good sense brings favor,
but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[i]
16 The shrewd always act prudently
but the foolish parade folly.[j]
17 A wicked messenger brings on disaster,
but a trustworthy envoy is a healing remedy.
18 Poverty and shame befall those who let go of discipline,
but those who hold on to reproof receive honor.[k]
19 Desire fulfilled delights the soul,
but turning from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Walk with the wise and you become wise,
but the companion of fools fares badly.(F)
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
but the just shall be recompensed with good.
22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just.
23 The tillage of the poor yields abundant food,
but possessions are swept away for lack of justice.[l]
24 Whoever spares the rod hates the child,
but whoever loves will apply discipline.(G)
25 When the just eat, their hunger is appeased;
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
Chapter 14
1 Wisdom builds her house,
but Folly tears hers down with her own hands.[m]
2 Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
but those who are devious in their ways spurn him.
3 In the mouth of the fool is a rod for pride,
but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean;
but abundant crops come through the strength of the bull.[n]
5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,
but one who spouts lies makes a lying witness.[o](H)
6 The scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for the intelligent.
7 Go from the face of the fool;
you get no knowledge from such lips.
8 The wisdom of the shrewd enlightens their way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.[p]
9 The wicked scorn a guilt offering,
but the upright find acceptance.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and its joy no stranger shares.[q]
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.[r](I)
12 Sometimes a way seems right,
but the end of it leads to death!(J)
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sad,
and the end of joy may be sorrow.
14 From their own ways turncoats are sated,
from their own actions, the loyal.
15 The naive believe everything,
but the shrewd watch their steps.[s]
16 The wise person is cautious and turns from evil;
the fool is reckless and gets embroiled.
17 The quick-tempered make fools of themselves,
and schemers are hated.
18 The simple have folly as an adornment,
but the shrewd wear knowledge as a crown.[t]
19 The malicious bow down before the good,
and the wicked, at the gates of the just.
20 Even by their neighbors the poor are despised,
but a rich person’s friends are many.(K)
21 Whoever despises the hungry comes up short,
but happy the one who is kind to the poor![u]
22 Do not those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan good win steadfast loyalty.
23 In all labor there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to loss.
24 The crown of the wise is wealth;
the diadem of fools is folly.
25 The truthful witness saves lives,
but whoever utters lies is a betrayer.
26 The fear of the Lord is a strong defense,
a refuge even for one’s children.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.
28 A multitude of subjects is the glory of the king;
but if his people are few, a prince is ruined.
29 Long-suffering results in great wisdom;
a short temper raises folly high.[v](L)
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the body,
but jealousy rots the bones.
31 Those who oppress the poor revile their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.(M)
32 The wicked are overthrown by their wickedness,
but the just find a refuge in their integrity.
33 Wisdom can remain silent in the discerning heart,
but among fools she must make herself known.[w](N)
34 Justice exalts a nation,
but sin is a people’s disgrace.[x]
35 The king favors the skillful servant,
but the shameless one incurs his wrath.
Chapter 15
1 [y]A mild answer turns back wrath,(O)
but a harsh word stirs up anger.[z]
2 The tongue of the wise pours out knowledge,
but the mouth of fools spews folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse one breaks the spirit.
5 The fool spurns a father’s instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.[aa](P)
6 In the house of the just there are ample resources,
but the harvest of the wicked is in peril.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the heart of fools is not steadfast.[ab]
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,(Q)
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves one who pursues justice.(R)
10 Discipline seems bad to those going astray;
one who hates reproof will die.[ac]
11 Sheol and Abaddon[ad] lie open before the Lord;
how much more the hearts of mortals!
12 Scoffers do not love reproof;
to the wise they will not go.
13 A glad heart lights up the face,
but an anguished heart breaks the spirit.(S)
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.[ae]
15 All the days of the poor are evil,
but a good heart is a continual feast.[af]
16 [ag]Better a little with fear of the Lord
than a great fortune with anxiety.
17 Better a dish of herbs where love is
than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
18 The ill-tempered stir up strife,(T)
but the patient settle disputes.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn hedge,
but the path of the diligent is a highway.
20 A wise son gives his father joy,
but a fool despises his mother.(U)
21 Folly is joy[ah] to the senseless,
but the person of understanding goes the straight way.
22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but they succeed when advisers are many.[ai](V)
23 One has joy from an apt response;
a word in season, how good it is
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
turning them from Sheol below.[ak]
25 The Lord pulls down the house of the proud,
but preserves intact the widow’s landmark.
26 The schemes of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,(X)
but gracious words are pure.[al]
27 The greedy tear down their own house,
but those who hate bribes will live.[am]
28 The heart of the just ponders a response,
but the mouth of the wicked spews evil.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but hears the prayer of the just.
30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart;
good news invigorates the bones.
31 The ear that listens to salutary reproof(Y)
is at home among the wise.[an]
32 Those who disregard discipline hate themselves,
but those who heed reproof acquire understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is training for wisdom,
and humility goes before honors.(Z)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.