1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.

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

2 A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

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

3 H e who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

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

4 T he appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.

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

5 A righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome and he comes to shame.

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

6 R ighteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner.

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

7 O ne man considers himself rich, yet has nothing; another man considers himself poor, yet has great riches.

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

8 A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats.

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

9 T he light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out shortly.

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

10 B y pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom.

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

11 W ealth won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase.

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

12 H ope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

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

13 W hoever despises the word and counsel brings destruction upon himself, but he who fears and respects the commandment is 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 teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid 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 wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.

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

16 E very prudent man deals with knowledge, but a fool exposes and flaunts his folly.

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

17 A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing.

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

18 P overty and shame come to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.

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

19 S atisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful and exceedingly offensive to fools to give up evil.

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

20 H e who walks with wise men is wise, but he who associates with fools is shall smart for it.

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

21 E vil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright and in right standing with God is recompensed with good.

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

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

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 tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice.

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

24 H e who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early.

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

25 T he righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.

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