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

A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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

By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

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

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. 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 desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

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

A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

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 way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

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

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have 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 riches, but the poor hear no threats.

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

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

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

Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

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 gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

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 when longing is fulfilled, it 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.

Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command 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 spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

15 G ood understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.

Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

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

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

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

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

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

Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

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

Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

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

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

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

Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

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, but the wealth of the sinner is stored 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.

An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

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

One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

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

The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.