1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.

¶ A wise son takes his father’s chastening: but a scorner does not hear rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.

¶ Of the fruit of his mouth man shall eat well: but the soul of the transgressors shall starve.

3 H e that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

¶ He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens his lips often shall have calamity.

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 desires, and attains nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

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

¶ The righteous man hates lying: but the wicked man makes himself loathsome, and abominable.

6 R ighteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

¶ Righteousness keeps the one of the perfect way: but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

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

¶ There are those that make themselves rich, yet have nothing: there are those that make themselves poor, yet have great riches.

8 T he ransom of a man's life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.

¶ The redemption of a man’s life is his riches: but the poor does not hear rebuke.

9 T he light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

¶ The light of the righteous shall rejoice: but the fire of the wicked shall be put out.

10 B y pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.

¶ Pride shall certainly give birth to contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

11 W ealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

¶ The riches of vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labour shall increase.

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 when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

13 W hoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

¶ Whosoever despises the word shall perish by it: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.

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

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

15 G ood understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.

¶ Good understanding brings forth grace: but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 E very prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.

¶ Every sane man works according to wisdom: but the fool shall manifest his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.

¶ A bad messenger shall fall into evil: but a faithful ambassador is medicine.

18 P overty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.

¶ Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses chastening: but he that regards reproof shall be honoured.

19 T he desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

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

20 W alk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.

¶ He that walks with wise men shall be wise, but the companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 E vil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.

¶ Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.

¶ A good man shall leave an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 M uch food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.

¶ In the fallow ground of the poor there is much bread, but it is lost for lack of judgment.

24 H e that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

¶ He that cuts short chastening hates his son, but he that loves him chastens him early.

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

¶ The righteous eats until his soul is satisfied, but the belly of the wicked shall lack.