Who is a Wise Son?
13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[b]
but the treacherous crave violence.
3 Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
anyone who talks too much[c] is ruined.
4 The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.
5 A righteous person hates deceit,
but the wicked person is shameful and disgraceful.
6 Righteousness protects the blameless,
but wickedness brings down[d] the sinner.
7 One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.
8 The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom,
but whoever is poor receives no threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines,
but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Arrogance only brings quarreling,
but those receiving advice are wise.
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.[e]
12 Delayed hope makes the heart ill,
but fulfilled longing is a tree of life.
13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.
14 What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life
and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces grace,
but the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.[f]
16 Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
but a fool demonstrates folly.
17 An evil messenger stumbles into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.
19 Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul,
but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.
20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Disaster pursues the sinful,
but good will reward the righteous.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.
23 The field of the poor may produce much food,
but it can be swept away through injustice.
24 Whoever does not discipline[g] his son hates him,
but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.
25 A righteous person eats to his heart’s content,
but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 The Heb. lacks heeds
- Proverbs 13:2 Lit. man eats good things
- Proverbs 13:3 Lit. who opens wide his lips
- Proverbs 13:6 So MT DSS 4QProvb; LXX reads but sins ruin the wicked
- Proverbs 13:11 The Heb. lacks his prosperity
- Proverbs 13:15 So MT; LXX Syr read grace, and to know the Law is the sign of a sound mind, but the path of scorners ends in destruction
- Proverbs 13:24 Lit. Whoever spares the rod