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

A wise son listens when his father tells him the right way, but one who laughs at the truth does not listen when strong words are spoken to him.

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

The one who is careful what he says will have good come to him, but the one who wants to hurt others will have trouble.

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

He who watches over his mouth keeps his life. He who opens his lips wide will be destroyed.

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 lazy person has strong desires but gets nothing, but the soul of the one who does his best gets more than he needs.

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

A man who is right with God hates lies, but the actions of a sinful man are hated and he is put to shame.

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

What is right and good watches over the one whose way is without blame, but sin destroys the sinful.

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 pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, but has many riches.

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

A rich man can use his riches to save his life, but the poor man does not hear strong words spoken to him.

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

Those who are right with God are full of light, but the lamp of the sinful will be put out.

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

Fighting comes only from pride, but wisdom is with those who listen when told what they should do.

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

Riches taken by false ways become less and less, but riches grow for the one who gathers by hard work.

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

Hope that is put off makes the heart sick, but a desire that comes into being 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 hates the Word is under its power, but he who fears the Word will be well paid.

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

The teaching of the wise is a well of life, to save one from the nets of death.

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

Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the sinful is hard.

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

Every wise man acts with much learning, but a fool makes his foolish way known.

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

A sinful helper falls into trouble, but a faithful helper brings healing.

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

He who will not listen to strong teaching will become poor and ashamed, but he who listens when strong words are spoken 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 that is filled is sweet to the soul, but fools hate to give up what is sinful.

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 one who walks with fools will be destroyed.

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

Trouble follows sinners, but good things will be given to those who are right with God.

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 what he owns for his children’s children. The riches of the sinner are stored up for those who are right with God.

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 plowed land of the poor, but it is taken away because of wrong-doing.

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

He who does not punish his son when he needs it hates him, but he who loves him will punish him when he needs it.

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

The man who is right with God has all the food he needs, but the stomach of the sinful man never has enough.