Proverbs 13–15

13TH CHAPTER

A Wise Son Lives Righteously

¹A wise son listens to his father’s discipline, 

but a mocker does not listen to reprimands. 

²A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability, 

but the appetite of treacherous people ⸤craves⸥ violence. 

³Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. 

Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin. 

⁴A lazy person craves food and there is none, 

but the appetite of hard-working people is satisfied. 

⁵A righteous person hates lying, 

but a wicked person behaves with shame and disgrace. 

⁶Righteousness protects the honest way of life, 

but wickedness ruins a sacrifice for sin. 

⁷One person pretends to be rich but has nothing. 

Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth. 

⁸A person’s riches are the ransom for his life, 

but the poor person does not pay attention to threats. 

⁹The light of righteous people beams brightly, 

but the lamp of wicked people will be snuffed out. 

¹⁰Arrogance produces only quarreling, 

but those who take advice gain wisdom. 

¹¹Wealth ⸤gained⸥ through injustice dwindles away, 

but whoever gathers little by little has plenty. 

¹²Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, 

but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life. 

¹³Whoever despises ⸤God’s⸥ words will pay the penalty, 

but the one who fears ⸤God’s⸥ commands will be rewarded. 

¹⁴The teachings of a wise person are a fountain of life 

to turn ⸤one⸥ away from the grasp of death. 

¹⁵Good sense brings favor, 

but the way of treacherous people is always the same.^a

¹⁶Any sensible person acts with knowledge, 

but a fool displays stupidity. 

¹⁷An undependable messenger gets into trouble, 

but a dependable envoy brings healing. 

¹⁸Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline, 

but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored. 

¹⁹A fulfilled desire is sweet to the soul, 

but turning from evil is disgusting to fools. 

²⁰Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, 

but whoever associates with fools will suffer. 

²¹Disaster hunts down sinners, 

but righteous people are rewarded with good. 

²²Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, 

but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person. 

²³When poor people are able to plow, there is much food, 

but a person is swept away where there is no justice. 

²⁴Whoever refuses to spank his son hates him, 

but whoever loves his son disciplines him from early on. 

²⁵A righteous person eats to satisfy his appetite, 

but the bellies of wicked people are always empty. 

14TH CHAPTER

Wise People Live Righteously

¹The wisest of women builds up her home, 

but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands. 

²Whoever lives right fears the Lord, 

but a person who is devious in his ways despises him. 

³Because of a stubborn fool’s words a whip is lifted against him, 

but wise people are protected by their speech. 

⁴Where there are no cattle, the feeding trough is empty, 

but the strength of an ox produces plentiful harvests. 

⁵A trustworthy witness does not lie, 

but a dishonest witness breathes lies. 

⁶A mocker searches for wisdom without finding it, 

but knowledge comes easily to a person who has understanding. 

⁷Stay away from a fool, 

because you will not receive knowledge from his lips. 

⁸The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life, 

but the stupidity of fools misleads them. 

⁹Stubborn fools make fun of guilt, 

but there is forgiveness among decent people. 

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness, 

and no stranger can share its joy. 

¹¹The houses of wicked people will be destroyed, 

but the tents of decent people will continue to expand. 

¹²There is a way that seems right to a person, 

but eventually it ends in death. 

¹³Even while laughing a heart can ache, 

and joy can end in grief. 

¹⁴A heart that turns ⸤from God⸥ becomes bored with its own ways, 

but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways. 

¹⁵A gullible person believes anything, 

but a sensible person watches his step. 

¹⁶A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, 

but a fool is carelessand overconfident. 

¹⁷A short-tempered person acts stupidly, 

and a person who plots evil is hated. 

¹⁸Gullible people are gifted with stupidity, 

but sensible people are crowned with knowledge. 

¹⁹Evil people will bow to good people. 

Wicked people will bow at the gates of a righteous person. 

²⁰A poor person is hated even by his neighbor, 

but a rich person is loved by many. 

²¹Whoever despises his neighbor sins, 

but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people. 

²²Don’t those who stray plan what is evil, 

while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good? 

²³In hard work there is always something gained, 

but idle talk leads only to poverty. 

²⁴The crown of wise people is their wealth. 

The stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity! 

²⁵An honest witness saves lives, 

but one who tells lies is dangerous. 

²⁶In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, 

and his children will have a place of refuge. 

²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life 

to turn ⸤one⸥ away from the grasp of death. 

²⁸A large population is an honor for a king, 

but without people a ruler is ruined. 

²⁹A person of great understanding is patient, 

but a short temper is the height of stupidity. 

³⁰A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body, 

but jealousy is ⸤like⸥ bone cancer. 

³¹Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker, 

but whoever is kind to the needy honors him. 

³²A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, 

but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge. 

³³Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person. 

Even fools recognize this. 

Wise Ways to Live

³⁴Righteousness lifts up a nation, 

but sin is a disgrace in any society. 

³⁵A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely, 

but he is furious with one who acts shamefully. 

15TH CHAPTER

¹A gentle answer turns away rage, 

but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

²The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, 

but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity. 

³The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. 

They watch evil people and good people. 

⁴A soothing tongue is a tree of life, 

but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit. 

⁵A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline, 

but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense. 

⁶Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person, 

but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person. 

⁷The lips of wise people spread knowledge, 

but a foolish attitude does not. 

⁸A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the Lord, 

but the prayers of decent people please him. 

⁹The way of wicked people is disgusting to the Lord, 

but he loves those who pursue righteousness. 

¹⁰Discipline is a terrible ⸤burden⸥ to anyone who leaves the ⸤right⸥ path. 

Anyone who hates a warning will die. 

¹¹If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the Lord 

how much more the human heart! 

¹²A mocker does not appreciate a warning. 

He will not go to wise people. 

¹³A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, 

but with a heartache comes depression. 

¹⁴The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge, 

but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity. 

¹⁵Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, 

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. 

¹⁶Better to have a little with the fear of the Lord 

than great treasure and turmoil. 

¹⁷Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love 

than juicy steaks where there is hate. 

¹⁸A hothead stirs up a fight, 

but one who holds his temper calms disputes. 

¹⁹The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, 

but the road of decent people is an ⸤open⸥ highway. 

A Wise Son Brings Blessings to Others

²⁰A wise son makes his father happy, 

but a foolish child despises its mother. 

²¹Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, 

but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead. 

²²Without advice plans go wrong, 

but with many advisers they succeed. 

²³A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth, 

and a timely word—oh, how good! 

²⁴The path of life for a wise person leads upward 

in order to turn him away from hell below. 

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of an arrogant person, 

but he protects the property of widows. 

²⁶The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to the Lord, 

but pleasant words are pure to him. 

²⁷Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family, 

but whoever hates bribes will live. 

²⁸The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer, 

but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things. 

²⁹The Lord is far from wicked people, 

but he hears the prayers of righteous people. 

³⁰A twinkle in the eye delights the heart. 

Good news refreshes the body. 

³¹The ear that listens to a life-giving warning 

will be at home among wise people. 

³²Whoever ignores discipline despises himself, 

but the person who listens to warning gains understanding. 

³³The fear of the Lord is discipline ⸤leading to⸥ wisdom, 

and humility comes before honor.