Proverbs 13:1–25

A wise son hears his father’s instruction,

but ^qa scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

²From the fruit of his mouth a man ^reats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous ^sis for violence.

^3tWhoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

^uhe who opens wide his lips ^vcomes to ruin.

^4wThe soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent ^xis richly supplied.

⁵The righteous hates falsehood,

but the wicked brings shame¹ and disgrace.

^6yRighteousness guards him whose ^zway is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

^7aOne pretends to be rich,² yet has nothing;

^banother pretends to be poor,³ yet has great wealth.

⁸The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,

but a poor man ^chears no threat.

^9dThe light of the righteous rejoices,

but ^ethe lamp of the wicked will be put out.

^10fBy insolence comes nothing but strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

^11gWealth gained hastily⁴ will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

^hbut a desire fulfilled is ⁱa tree of life.

¹³Whoever ^jdespises ^kthe word⁵ brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment⁶ will be ^lrewarded.

¹⁴The teaching of the wise is ^ma fountain of life,

that one may ⁿturn away from the snares of death.

^15oGood sense wins ^pfavor,

but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.⁷

^16qEvery prudent man acts with knowledge,

^rbut a fool flaunts his folly.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but ^sa faithful envoy brings healing.

¹⁸Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^tignores instruction,

^ubut whoever ^vheeds reproof is honored.

^19wA desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

²⁰Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

^21xDisaster⁸ pursues sinners,

^ybut the righteous are rewarded with good.

^22zA good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

but ^athe sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

²³The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,

but it is swept away through ^binjustice.

^24cWhoever spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.⁹

^25dThe righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want.