Proverbs, 13

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

1. An intelligent son listens to his father's advice, but a mocker listens to no correction.

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

2. A man can taste goodness from the fruit of his own mouth, but the treacherous feed on violence.

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

3. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, the constant talker is lost.

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

4. The lazy man hopes but his desires are in vain, whereas hard workers have their desires fulfilled.

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

5. The upright man hates lying words but the evildoer slanders and defames.

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

6. Virtue protects men of honest life; while sin brings ruin to the wicked.

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

7. One pretends to be rich but has nothing, another, of great wealth, feigns poverty.

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

8. A man's wealth lets him ransom his life but the poor man has nothing with which to do so.

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

9. The light of the virtuous is bright, the lamp of the godless is extinguished.

10. Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.

10. Arrogance only brings trouble; wisdom is found in those who take advice.

11. Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

11. Sudden riches will decrease, he who gathers little by little will be enriched.

12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life.

12. Delayed hope makes the heart languish, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

13. The one who scorns teaching will be in want, those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

14. The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

14. The wise man's teaching is a life-giving fountain for escaping the snares of death.

15. Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors [is] hard.

15. Prudent intelligence wins favor, the way of liars leads nowhere.

16. Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.

16. Every prudent man acts with reflection, the fool parades his stupidity.

17. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador [is] health.

17. A wicked messenger falls on misfortune, the reliable one brings healing.

18. Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

18. Poverty and shame to the one who rejects correction; honor to him who accepts rebuke.

19. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil.

19. Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul; but fools spurn rejection of evil.

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

20. Walk with the wise and you will gain wisdom; those who befriend fools become wicked.

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

21. Misfortune hounds the sinner, while the upright abound in good fortune.

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

22. A good man's inheritance is for his children's children, a sinner's wealth will be kept for the virtuous.

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

23. The tillage of the poor supplies food, while others perish because of their lack of righteousness.

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

24. Unloved is the child whom the father hates to punish; the loving father frequently corrects.

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

25. The upright man eats his fill, while the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.