Proverbs 10:13–21

13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

14 The wise lay up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,

the gain of the wicked to sin.

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found:

But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge:

But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city:

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life:

The fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction:

But he that refuseth reproof erreth.

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips,

And he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin:

But he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver:

The heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many:

But fools die for want of wisdom.

13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,

but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

14 Wise people treasure knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,

but evil people squander their money on sin.

17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,

but those who ignore correction will go astray.

18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar;

slandering others makes you a fool.

19 Too much talk leads to sin.

Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

the heart of a fool is worthless.

21 The words of the godly encourage many,

but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,

But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

14 Wise people store up knowledge,

But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,

The wages of the wicked to sin.

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,

But he who refuses correction goes astray.

18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,

And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,

But he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

But fools die for lack of wisdom.

13 Wise people speak with understanding,

but people without wisdom should be punished.

14 The wise don’t tell everything they know,

but the foolish talk too much and are ruined.

15 Having lots of money protects the rich,

but having no money destroys the poor.

16 Good people are rewarded with life,

but evil people are paid with punishment.

17 Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life,

but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life.

18 Whoever hides hate is a liar.

Whoever tells lies is a fool.

19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin;

if you are wise, you will keep quiet.

20 The words of a good person are like pure silver,

but an evil person’s thoughts are worth very little.

21 Good people’s words will help many others,

but fools will die because they don’t have wisdom.

13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found;

But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge;

But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city:

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life;

The increase of the wicked, to sin.

17 He is in the way of life that heedeth correction;

But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.

18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips;

And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression;

But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver:

The heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many;

But the foolish die for lack of understanding.

13 In the lips of an intelligent man wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 The wise lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the fool is near destruction.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labour of a righteous man tendeth to life; the revenue of a wicked man, to sin.

17 Keeping instruction is the path to life; but he that forsaketh reproof goeth astray.

18 He that covereth hatred hath lying lips, and he that sendeth forth a slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.

20 The tongue of the righteous man is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of a righteous man feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of a person who has understanding, 

but a rod is for the back of one without sense. 

14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, 

but the mouth of a stubborn fool invites ruin. 

15 The rich person’s wealth is ⸤his⸥ strong city. 

Poverty ruins the poor. 

16 A righteous person’s reward is life. 

A wicked person’s harvest is sin. 

17 Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life, 

but whoever ignores a warning strays. 

18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips. 

Whoever spreads slander is a fool. 

19 Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, 

but whoever seals his lips is wise. 

20 The tongue of a righteous person is pure silver. 

The hearts of wicked people are worthless. 

21 The lips of a righteous person feed many, 

but stubborn fools die because they have no sense. 

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.

14 The wise store up knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

15 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life;

the activity of the wicked leads to sin.

17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,

but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,

but the one who controls his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.

14 The wise lay up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,

the gain of the wicked to sin.

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.

18 Lying lips conceal hatred,

and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but the prudent are restrained in speech.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the mind of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.

14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,

but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

15 The wealth of the rich is the city of his strength;

the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16 The wage of the righteous leads to life;

the gain of the wicked to sin.

17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction,

but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

18 He who conceals hatred has lips of deceit,

and he who utters slander—he is a fool.

19 In many words, transgression is not lacking,

but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

20 Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness,

a heart of wickedness is of little worth.

21 Lips of righteousness feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of those who understand what is right.

But those who have no sense are punished.

14 Wise people store up knowledge.

But the mouths of foolish people destroy them.

15 The wealth of rich people is like a city that makes them feel safe.

But having nothing destroys those who are poor.

16 People who do what is right earn life.

But what sinners earn causes them to be punished.

17 Anyone who pays attention to his training

is on his way to life.

But anyone who refuses to be corrected

leads others down the wrong path.

18 Anyone who hides hatred has lying lips.

And anyone who spreads lies is foolish.

19 Those who talk a lot are likely to sin.

But those who control their tongues are wise.

20 The tongues of those who do right are like fine silver.

But the hearts of those who do wrong aren’t worth very much.

21 The words of those who do right benefit many people.

But those who are foolish die because they have no sense.

13 On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,

But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.

14 Wise men store up knowledge,

But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his fortress,

The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16 The wages of the righteous is life,

The income of the wicked, punishment.

17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,

But he who ignores reproof goes astray.

18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips,

And he who spreads slander is a fool.

19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,

But he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,

The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

But fools die for lack of understanding.