13 A wise youth accepts his father’s rebuke; a young mocker doesn’t.
2 The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight.
3 Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.
4 Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering.
5 A good man hates lies; wicked men lie constantly[a] and come to shame.
6 A man’s goodness helps him all through life, while evil men are being destroyed by their wickedness.
7 Some rich people are poor, and some poor people have great wealth!
8 Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!
9 The good man’s life is full of light. The sinner’s road is dark and gloomy.
10 Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise.
11 Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.[b]
13 Despise God’s Word and find yourself in trouble. Obey it and succeed.
14 The advice of a wise man refreshes like water from a mountain spring. Those accepting it become aware of the pitfalls on ahead.
15 A man with good sense is appreciated. A treacherous man must walk a rocky road.
16 A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!
17 An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress.
18 If you refuse criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept criticism, you are on the road to fame.
19 It is pleasant to see plans develop. That is why fools refuse to give them up even when they are wrong.
20 Be with wise men and become wise. Be with evil men and become evil.
21 Curses chase sinners, while blessings chase the righteous!
22 When a good man dies, he leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren; but when a sinner dies, his wealth is stored up for the godly.
23 A poor man’s farm may have good soil, but injustice robs him of its riches.
24 If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him; for if you love him, you will be prompt to punish him.
25 The good man eats to live, while the evil man lives to eat.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:5 wicked men lie constantly, implied.
- Proverbs 13:12 but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy, literally, “it is a tree of life.”
- Proverbs 13:25 while the evil man lives to eat, literally, “but the wicked never get enough.”