Proverbs 13

₁A wise son hears his father’s instruction,

but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

₂From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

₃Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

₄The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

₅The righteous hates falsehood,

but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.

₆Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

₇One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

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

but a poor man hears no threat.

₉The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

₁₀By insolence comes nothing but strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

₁₁Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

₁₂Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

₁₃Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

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

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

₁₅Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

₁₆In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,

but a fool flaunts his folly.

₁₇A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

₁₈Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

₁₉A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

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

₂₀Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

₂₁Disaster pursues sinners,

but the righteous are rewarded with good.

₂₂A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

₂₃The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,

but it is swept away through injustice.

₂₄Whoever spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

₂₅The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want.