Proverbs 13

¹A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,

but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.

²From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,

but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

³Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,

but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

⁴A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,

but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

⁵The righteous hate what is false,

but the wicked make themselves obnoxious

and bring shame on themselves.

⁶Righteousness guards the person of integrity,

but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

⁸A person’s riches may ransom their life,

but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.

⁹The light of the righteous shines brightly,

but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

¹⁰Where there is strife, there is pride,

but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

¹¹Dishonest money dwindles away,

but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,

but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

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

turning a person from the snares of death.

¹⁵Good judgment wins favour,

but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

¹⁶All who are prudent act with knowledge,[#13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through]

but fools expose their folly.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

¹⁸Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,

but whoever heeds correction is honoured.

¹⁹A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰Walk with the wise and become wise,

for a companion of fools suffers harm.

²¹Trouble pursues the sinner,

but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

²²A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,

but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

²³An unploughed field produces food for the poor,

but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴Whoever spares the rod hates their children,

but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

²⁵The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,

but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.