Proverbs 13

1 A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

1 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.

2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.

3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

5 A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.

6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

8 Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

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

10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.

11 Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

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

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

13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.

14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.

15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

18 Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.

18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.

19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

20 One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.

23 An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

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

24 One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25 A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.

25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.