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

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, 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 treacherous shall eat violence.

A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

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

He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

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

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

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

A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

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

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, 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 is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

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

The ransom 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 rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

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

By pride comes nothing but strife, 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.

Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will 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 comes, 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.

He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will 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 turn one away from the snares of death.

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

Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

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

Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly.

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

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health.

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

Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

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

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an 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 who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will 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 leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But 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 by reason of injustice.

Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.

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

He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

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

The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.