Proverbs 13:8–16

8 A person’s riches may ransom their life,

but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.

9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,

but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,

but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,

but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,

but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

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

turning a person from the snares of death.

15 Good judgment wins favor,

but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

16 All who are prudent act with knowledge,

but fools expose their folly.

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

but a poor man hears no threat.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By insolence comes nothing but strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

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.

8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches:

But the poor heareth not rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth:

But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 Only by pride cometh contention:

But with the well advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:

But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

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.

8 The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,

but the poor won’t even get threatened.

9 The life of the godly is full of light and joy,

but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

10 Pride leads to conflict;

those who take advice are wise.

11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;

wealth from hard work grows over time.

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.

8 The rich may have to pay a ransom for their lives,

but the poor will face no such danger.

9 Good people can look forward to a bright future,

but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out.

10 Pride only leads to arguments,

but those who take advice are wise.

11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly,

but money that is gathered little by little will grow.

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.

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches;

But the poor heareth no threatening.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth;

But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 By pride cometh only contention;

But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished;

But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

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.

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase it.

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.

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

but the poor person does not pay attention to threats. 

9 The light of righteous people beams brightly, 

but the lamp of wicked people will be snuffed out. 

10 Arrogance produces only quarreling, 

but those who take advice gain wisdom. 

11 Wealth ⸤gained⸥ through injustice dwindles away, 

but whoever gathers little by little has plenty. 

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. 

8 Riches are a ransom for a man’s life,

but a poor man hears no threat.

9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,

but the lamp of the wicked is put out.

10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,

but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,

but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it.

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.

8 Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,

but a poor person pays no attention to a rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked goes out.

10 By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife,

but wisdom is with those who take advice.

11 Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle,

but those who gather little by little will increase it.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,

but those who respect a command 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.

8 The ransom of the life of a man is his wealth,

but the poor does not receive a threat.

9 The light of the righteous will rejoice,

but the lamp of the wicked will die out.

10 Only by insolence is strife set up,

and wisdom is with those who take advice.

11 Wealth gained from haste will dwindle,

but he who gathers little by little will increase it.

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.

8 A man who is rich might have to pay to save his life.

But a poor person is not in danger of that.

9 The lights of godly people shine brightly.

But the lamps of sinners are blown out.

10 Pride only leads to arguing.

But those who take advice are wise.

11 Money that is gained in the wrong way disappears.

But money that is gathered little by little grows.

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.

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

But the poor hears no rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

10 Through insolence comes nothing but strife,

But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

11 Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,

But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

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.