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Who is a Wise Son?

13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[b]
    but the treacherous crave violence.
Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
    anyone who talks too much[c] is ruined.

The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing,
    but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.

A righteous person hates deceit,
    but the wicked person is shameful and disgraceful.
Righteousness protects the blameless,
    but wickedness brings down[d] the sinner.

One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing;
    another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.
The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom,
    but whoever is poor receives no threats.

The light of the righteous shines,
    but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

10 Arrogance only brings quarreling,
    but those receiving advice are wise.

11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
    but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.[e]

12 Delayed hope makes the heart ill,
    but fulfilled longing is a tree of life.

13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
    but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.
14 What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life
    and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces grace,
    but the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.[f]

16 Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
    but a fool demonstrates folly.
17 An evil messenger stumbles into trouble,
    but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
    but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.

19 Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul,
    but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.
20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.

21 Disaster pursues the sinful,
    but good will reward the righteous.

22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
    but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.
23 The field of the poor may produce much food,
    but it can be swept away through injustice.

24 Whoever does not discipline[g] his son hates him,
    but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.

25 A righteous person eats to his heart’s content,
    but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 The Heb. lacks heeds
  2. Proverbs 13:2 Lit. man eats good things
  3. Proverbs 13:3 Lit. who opens wide his lips
  4. Proverbs 13:6 So MT DSS 4QProvb; LXX reads but sins ruin the wicked
  5. Proverbs 13:11 The Heb. lacks his prosperity
  6. Proverbs 13:15 So MT; LXX Syr read grace, and to know the Law is the sign of a sound mind, but the path of scorners ends in destruction
  7. Proverbs 13:24 Lit. Whoever spares the rod

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(C) preserve their lives,(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(E)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(H)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(J)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(K)

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(L)

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(M)

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(N)
    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.(O)

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(P)
    but whoever respects(Q) a command is rewarded.(R)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(T)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
    but fools expose(U) their folly.(V)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(W)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(X)

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(Y)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(Z)

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(AA)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(AB)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(AC)
    but the righteous(AD) are rewarded with good things.(AE)

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(AF)

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

24 Whoever spares the rod(AG) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(AH) them.(AI)

25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through

13 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

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.

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.

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.