Proverbs 13–15

Chapter 13

A wise son heareth the doctrine of his father: but he that is a scorner, heareth not when he is reproved.

²Of the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good things: but the soul of transgressors is wicked.

³He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his soul: but he that hath no guard on his speech shall meet with evils.

⁴The sluggard willeth, and willeth not: but the soul of them that work, shall be made fat.

⁵The just shall hate a lying word: but the wicked confoundeth, and shall be confounded.

⁶Justice keepeth the way of the innocent: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

⁷One is as it were rich, when he hath nothing and another is as it were poor, when he hath great riches.

⁸The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but he that is poor, beareth not reprehension.

⁹The light of the just giveth joy: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

¹⁰Among the proud there are always contentions: but they that do all things with counsel, are ruled by wisdom.

¹¹Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by little and little is gathered with the hand, shall increase.

¹²Hope that is deferred afflicteth the soul: desire when it cometh, is a tree of life.

¹³Whosoever speaketh ill of any thing, bindeth himself for the time to come: but he that feareth the commandment, shall dwell in peace. Deceitful souls go astray in sins: the just are merciful, and shew mercy.

¹⁴The law of the wise is a fountain of life, that he may decline from the ruin of death.

¹⁵Good instruction shall give grace: in the way of scorners is a deep pit.

¹⁶The prudent man doth all things with counsel: but he that is a fool, layeth open his folly.

¹⁷The messenger of the wicked shall fall into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

¹⁸Poverty and shame to him that refuseth instruction: but he that yieldeth to reproof shall be glorified.

¹⁹The desire that is accomplished, delighteth the soul: fools hate them that flee from evil things.

²⁰He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools shall become like to them.

²¹Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid.

²²The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the substance of the sinner is kept for the just.

²³Much food is in the tillage of fathers: but for others it is gathered without judgment.

²⁴He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, correcteth him betimes.

²⁵The just eateth and filleth his soul: but the belly of the wicked is never to be filled.

Chapter 14

A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.

²He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.

³In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.

⁴Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.

⁵A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.

⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.

⁷Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of prudence.

⁸The wisdom of a discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.

⁹A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.

¹⁰The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.

¹¹The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.

¹²There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead to death.

¹³Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold of the ends of joy.

¹⁴A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be above him.

¹⁵The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made straight.

¹⁶A wise man feareth, and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over, and is confident.

¹⁷The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.

¹⁸The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent shall look for knowledge.

¹⁹The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before the gates of the just.

²⁰The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the friends of the rich are many.

²¹He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.

²²They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.

²³In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.

²⁴The crown of the wise, is their riches: the folly of fools, imprudence.

²⁵A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.

²⁶In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.

²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the ruin of death.

²⁸In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of the people the dishonour of the prince.

²⁹He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.

³⁰Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

³¹He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.

³²The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his death.

³³In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.

³⁴Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable.

³⁵A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.

Chapter 15

A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.

²The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools bubbleth out folly.

³The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil.

⁴A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.

⁵A fool laugheth at the instruction of his father: but he that regardeth reproofs shall become prudent. In abundant justice there is the greatest strength: but the devices of the wicked shall be rooted out.

⁶The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of the wicked is trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike.

⁸The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: he that followeth justice is beloved by him.

¹⁰Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: he that hateth reproof shall die.

¹¹Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men?

¹²A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go to the wise.

¹³A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.

¹⁴The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

¹⁵All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content.

¹⁷It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred.

¹⁸A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient appeaseth those that are stirred up.

¹⁹The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: the way of the just is without offence.

²⁰A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.

²²Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established.

²³A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due time is best.

²⁴The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell.

²⁵The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow.

²⁶Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.

²⁷He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil.

²⁸The mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked overfloweth with evils.

²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of the just.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the bones fat.

³¹The ear that heareth the reproofs of life, shall abide in the midst of the wise.

³²He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he that yieldeth to reproof, possesseth understanding.

³³The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before glory.