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

A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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

From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

3 H e that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

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

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

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

A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.

6 R ighteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness subverts the sinner.

7 T here is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

8 T he ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke.

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

The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

10 O nly by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

11 W ealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

12 H ope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

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

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 T he law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.

15 G ood understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard.

16 E very prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.

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

A wicked messenger falls into adversity, But a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 P overty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored.

19 T he desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Desire realized is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.

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

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

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

Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

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

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

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

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.

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

He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

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

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, But the stomach of the wicked is in need.