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Proverbs 13
Modern English Version
Proverbs 13
Modern English Version
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 A man will eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
but the soul of the transgressor will eat violence.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
but he who opens wide his lips will have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing;
but the soul of the diligent will be made fat.
5 A righteous man hates lying,
but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
6 Righteousness keeps him who is upright in the way,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
there is one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
but the poor does not hear rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 Only by pride comes contention,
but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained by vanity will be diminished,
but he who gathers by labor will increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,
but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding gives favor,
but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge,
but a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief,
but a faithful envoy is health.
18 Poverty and shame will be to him who refuses instruction,
but he who regards reproof will be honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
but a companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 Evil pursues sinners,
but to the righteous good will be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor,
but for lack of justice it is destroyed.
24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
but he who loves him disciplines him early.
25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
but the stomach of the wicked will want.
Proverbs 13
New International Version
Proverbs 13
New International Version
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)
2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)
4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate what is false,(G)
but the wicked make themselves a stench
and bring shame on themselves.
6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)
7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)
8 A person’s riches may ransom their life,
but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(L)
10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(M)
11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(N)
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(O)
15 Good judgment wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]
18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(Y)
but whoever heeds correction is honored.(Z)
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(AA)
but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.(AB)
22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(AF)
23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24 Whoever spares the rod(AG) hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(AH) them.(AI)
25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(AJ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
Modern English Version (MEV)
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.