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Proverbs 13:12–19

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.e

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,f

but whoever respectsg a command is rewarded.h

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,i

turning a person from the snares of death.j

15 Good judgment wins favor,

but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.a

16 All who are prudent act withb knowledge,

but fools exposek their folly.l

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,m

but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.n

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,o

but whoever heeds correction is honored.p

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,q

but fools detest turning from evil.

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Proverbs 13:12–19 — English Standard Version (ESV)

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

15 Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

but a fool flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

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

Proverbs 13:12–19 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:

But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed:

But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

To depart from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding giveth favour:

But the way of transgressors is hard.

16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge:

But a fool layeth open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief:

But a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction:

But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul:

But it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — New Living Translation (NLT)

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;

those who respect a command will succeed.

14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;

those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

15 A person with good sense is respected;

a treacherous person is headed for destruction.

16 Wise people think before they act;

fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

17 An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,

but a reliable messenger brings healing.

18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;

if you accept correction, you will be honored.

19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,

but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,

But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

To turn one away from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding gains favor,

But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

But a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

But a faithful ambassador brings health.

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,

But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,

But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — New Century Version (NCV)

12 It is sad not to get what you hoped for.

But wishes that come true are like eating fruit from the tree of life.

13 Those who reject what they are taught will pay for it,

but those who obey what they are told will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of a wise person gives life.

It is like a fountain that can save people from death.

15 People with good understanding will be well liked,

but the lives of those who are not trustworthy are hard.

16 Every wise person acts with good sense,

but fools show how foolish they are.

17 A wicked messenger brings nothing but trouble,

but a trustworthy one makes everything right.

18 A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced,

but the one who accepts correction will be honored.

19 It is so good when wishes come true,

but fools hate to stop doing evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — American Standard Version (ASV)

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;

But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself;

But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

That one may depart from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding giveth favor;

But the way of the transgressor is hard.

16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge;

But a fool flaunteth his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil;

But a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction;

But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul;

But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire that cometh to pass is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise man is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard.

16 Every prudent man acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

12 Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, 

but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life. 

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

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

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

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

15 Good sense brings favor, 

but the way of treacherous people is always the same.

16 Any sensible person acts with knowledge, 

but a fool displays stupidity. 

17 An undependable messenger gets into trouble, 

but a dependable envoy brings healing. 

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

but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored. 

19 A fulfilled desire is sweet to the soul, 

but turning from evil is disgusting to fools. 

Proverbs 13:12–19 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Delayed hope makes the heart sick,

but fulfilled desire is a tree of life.

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,

but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 A wise man’s instruction is a fountain of life,

turning people away from the snares of death.

15 Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous never changes.

16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,

but a fool displays his stupidity.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a trustworthy courier brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to those

who ignore discipline,

but the one who accepts correction will be honored.

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,

but to turn from evil

is an abomination to fools.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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 favor,

but the way of the faithless is their ruin.

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 honored.

19 A desire realized is sweet to the soul,

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

Proverbs 13:12–19 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

12 Hope that is deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 He who despises a word will bring destruction on himself,

but he who respects a commandment will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

in order to avoid the snares of death.

15 Good sense grants favor,

but the way of the faithless is coarse.

16 Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence,

but the fool will display folly.

17 A messenger of wickedness will fall into trouble,

but an envoy of the faithful brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace belong to him who ignores instruction,

but he who guards reproof will be honored.

19 A desire fulfilled will be sweet to the soul,

but an abomination of fools is turning from evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

12 Hope that is put off makes one sick at heart.

But a longing that is met is like a tree of life.

13 Anyone who hates what he is taught will pay for it later.

But a person who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of wise people is like a fountain that gives life.

It turns those who listen to it away from the jaws of death.

15 Good understanding wins favor.

But the way of liars doesn’t last.

16 Wise people act in keeping with the knowledge they have.

But foolish people show how foolish they are.

17 An evil messenger gets into trouble.

But a messenger who is trusted brings healing.

18 Those who turn away from their training become poor and ashamed.

But those who accept warnings are honored.

19 A longing that is met is like something that tastes sweet.

But foolish people hate to turn away from evil.

Proverbs 13:12–19 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,

But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

To turn aside from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding produces favor,

But the way of the treacherous is hard.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

But a fool displays folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity,

But a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,

But he who regards reproof will be honored.

19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul,

But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.


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