13 A wise son listens to[a] the discipline of his father,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.
2 People eat well from the fruit of their words,
but the treacherous have an appetite only for violence.
3 People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
but those who open their lips are ruined.
4 The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing;
the appetite of the diligent is satisfied.
5 The righteous hate false words,
but the wicked create disgust and scorn.
6 Righteousness guards the innocent on the path,
but wickedness misleads sinners.
7 Some pretend to be rich but have nothing,
while others pretend to be poor, but have great riches.
8 Wealth can ransom a person’s life,
but the poor don’t even receive threats.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
those who take advice are wise.
11 Riches gotten quickly[b] will dwindle,
but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
12 Hope delayed makes the heart sick;
longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a person away from deathtraps.
15 Good insight brings favor,
but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[c]
16 The prudent all act intelligently,
but fools display their stupidity.
17 Wicked messengers fall into trouble,
but a reliable one brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
honor belongs to those who heed correction.
19 A desire fulfilled is pleasant,
but fools find deviating from evil disgusting.
20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
befriend fools and get in trouble.
21 Trouble pursues sinners,
but good things reward the righteous.
22 Good people leave their grandchildren an inheritance,
but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.
23 A poor person’s land might produce much food,
but it is unjustly swept away.
24 Those who withhold the rod hate their children,
but the one who loves them applies discipline.
25 The righteous eat their fill,
but the wicked have empty stomachs.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 Heb lacks listens to.
- Proverbs 13:11 LXX; MT from meaninglessness
- Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT endures