Proverbs 23:9–19

9 Do not speak to fools,

for they will scorn your prudent words.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone

or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Defender is strong;

he will take up their case against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction

and your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

14 Punish them with the rod

and save them from death.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

then my heart will be glad indeed;

16 my inmost being will rejoice

when your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

18 There is surely a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,

and set your heart on the right path:

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

for he will despise the good sense of your words.

10 Do not move an ancient landmark

or enter the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong;

he will plead their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction

and your ear to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

14 If you strike him with the rod,

you will save his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

my heart too will be glad.

16 My inmost being will exult

when your lips speak what is right.

17 Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

18 Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise,

and direct your heart in the way.

9 Speak not in the ears of a fool:

For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10 Remove not the old landmark;

And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11 For their redeemer is mighty;

He shall plead their cause with thee.

12 Apply thine heart unto instruction,

And thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Withhold not correction from the child:

For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod,

And shalt deliver his soul from hell.

15 My son, if thine heart be wise,

My heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice,

When thy lips speak right things.

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners:

But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

18 For surely there is an end;

And thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise,

And guide thine heart in the way.

9 Don’t waste your breath on fools,

for they will despise the wisest advice.

10 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;

don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.

11 For their Redeemer is strong;

he himself will bring their charges against you.

12 Commit yourself to instruction;

listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t fail to discipline your children.

The rod of punishment won’t kill them.

14 Physical discipline

may well save them from death.

15 My child, if your heart is wise,

my own heart will rejoice!

16 Everything in me will celebrate

when you speak what is right.

17 Don’t envy sinners,

but always continue to fear the Lord.

18 You will be rewarded for this;

your hope will not be disappointed.

19 My child, listen and be wise:

Keep your heart on the right course.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not remove the ancient landmark,

Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;

11 For their Redeemer is mighty;

He will plead their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction,

And your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold correction from a child,

For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.

14 You shall beat him with a rod,

And deliver his soul from hell.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;

16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoice

When your lips speak right things.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;

18 For surely there is a hereafter,

And your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;

And guide your heart in the way.

9 Don’t speak to fools;

they will only ignore your wise words.

10 Don’t move an old stone that marks a border,

and don’t take fields that belong to orphans.

11 God, their defender, is strong;

he will take their side against you.

12 Remember what you are taught,

and listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t fail to punish children.

If you spank them, they won’t die.

14 If you spank them,

you will save them from death.

15 My child, if you are wise,

then I will be happy.

16 I will be so pleased

if you speak what is right.

17 Don’t envy sinners,

but always respect the Lord.

18 Then you will have hope for the future,

and your wishes will come true.

19 Listen, my child, and be wise.

Keep your mind on what is right.

9 Speak not in the ears of a foolish man, for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10 Remove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: 11 for their redeemer is mighty; he will plead their cause against thee.

12 Apply thy heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die: 14 thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Sheol. 15 My son, if thy heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine; 16 and my reins shall exult, when thy lips speak right things.

17 Let not thy heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day; 18 for surely there is a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way.

9 Do not talk directly to a fool, 

because he will despise the wisdom of your words. 

10 Do not move an ancient boundary marker 

or enter fields that belong to orphans, 

11 because the one who is responsible for them is strong. 

He will plead their case against you. 

12 Live a more disciplined life, 

and listen carefully to words of knowledge. 

13 Do not hesitate to discipline a child. 

If you spank him, he will not die. 

14 Spank him yourself, 

and you will save his soul from hell. 

15 My son, 

if you have a wise heart, 

my heart will rejoice as well. 

16 My heart rejoices when you speak what is right. 

17 Do not envy sinners in your heart. 

Instead, continue to fear the Lord. 

18 There is indeed a future, 

and your hope will never be cut off. 

19 My son, 

listen, be wise, 

and keep your mind going in the right direction. 

9 Don’t speak to a fool,

for he will despise the insight of your words.

10 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

and don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong,

and He will take up their case against you.

12 Apply yourself to discipline

and listen to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t withhold discipline from a youth;

if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.

14 Strike him with a rod,

and you will rescue his life from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

my heart will indeed rejoice.

16 My innermost being will cheer

when your lips say what is right.

17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners;

instead, always fear the Lord.

18 For then you will have a future,

and your hope will never fade.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise;

keep your mind on the right course.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

who will only despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not remove an ancient landmark

or encroach on the fields of orphans,

11 for their vindicator is strong;

he will plead their cause against you.

12 Apply your mind to instruction

and your ear to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from your children;

if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.

14 If you beat them with the rod,

you will save their lives from Sheol.

15 My child, if your heart is wise,

my heart also will be glad.

16 My soul will rejoice

when your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but always continue in the fear of the Lord.

18 Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my child, and be wise,

and direct your mind in the way.

9 In the ears of a fool do not speak,

for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker,

and on the fields of orphans do not encroach;

11 For their redeemer is strong,

he himself will plead their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction,

and your ear to sayings of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child,

if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die.

14 As for you, with the rod you shall beat him,

and his life you will save from Sheol.

15 My child, if your heart is wise,

my heart will be glad—even me!

16 And my insides will rejoice

when your lips speak what is upright.

17 May your heart not envy the sinners,

but live in fear of Yahweh all day.

18 Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

19 You, my child, hear and be wise,

and direct your heart on the road.

9 Don’t speak to a foolish person.

He will laugh at your wise words.

10 Don’t move old boundary stones.

Don’t try to take over the fields of children whose fathers have died.

11 The One who guards them is strong.

He will stand up for them in court against you.

12 Apply your heart to what you are taught.

Listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t hold back training from a child.

If you correct him, he won’t die.

14 So correct him.

Then you will save him from death.

15 My child, if your heart is wise,

my heart will be glad.

16 Deep down inside, I will be happy

when you say what is right.

17 Do not long for what sinners have.

But always show great respect for the Lord.

18 There really is hope for you tomorrow.

So your hope will not be cut off.

19 My child, listen and be wise.

Keep your heart on the right path.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary

Or go into the fields of the fatherless,

11 For their Redeemer is strong;

He will plead their case against you.

12 Apply your heart to discipline

And your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not hold back discipline from the child,

Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

14 You shall strike him with the rod

And rescue his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

My own heart also will be glad;

16 And my inmost being will rejoice

When your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,

But live in the fear of the Lord always.

18 Surely there is a future,

And your hope will not be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,

And direct your heart in the way.