1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

A wise son -- the instruction of a father, And a scorner -- he hath not heard rebuke.

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

From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous -- violence.

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

Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips -- ruin to him!

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

The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.

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

A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.

6 R ighteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.

7 T here is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth abundant.

8 T he ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke.

The ransom of a man's life his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.

9 T he light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

10 B y pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled wisdom.

11 W ealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

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

Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life the coming desire.

13 H e who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.

14 T he law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

The law of the wise a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.

15 G ood understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous hard.

16 E very prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly.

Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.

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

A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.

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

Whoso is refusing instruction -- poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.

19 A 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, And an abomination to fools: Turn from evil.

20 H e who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.

21 E vil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

A good man causeth sons' sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous the sinner's wealth.

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

Abundance of food -- the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.

24 H e who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.

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

The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!