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13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
From the fruit of their words good people eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
    those who open wide their lips come to ruin.
The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing,
    while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.
The righteous hate falsehood,
    but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing;
    others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
    but the poor get no threats.
The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 By insolence the heedless make strife,
    but wisdom is with those who take advice.
11 Wealth hastily gained[b] will dwindle,
    but those who gather little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.
15 Good sense wins favour,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[c]
16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.
17 A bad messenger brings trouble,
    but a faithful envoy, healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honoured.
19 A desire realized is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
    but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
    but it is swept away through injustice.
24 Those who spare the rod hate their children,
    but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.
25 The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked is empty.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
  3. Proverbs 13:15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)

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)

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(P)
    but whoever respects(Q) a command is rewarded.(R)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(T)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
    but fools expose(U) their folly.(V)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(W)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(X)

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)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(AC)
    but the righteous(AD) are rewarded with good things.(AE)

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

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through