1 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.

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

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

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

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

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

4 T he 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.

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

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

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

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

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 T here is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, but has many riches.

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

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

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

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

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

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

By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

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

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

12 H ope that is put off makes the heart sick, but a desire that comes into being is a tree of life.

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

13 H e who hates the Word is under its power, but he who fears the Word will be well paid.

He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 T he teaching of the wise is a well of life, to save one from the nets 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 wins favor, but the way of the sinful is hard.

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

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

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

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

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

18 H e who will not listen to strong teaching will become poor and ashamed, but he who listens when strong words are spoken will be honored.

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

19 A desire that is filled is sweet to the soul, but fools hate to give up what is sinful.

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 H e who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

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

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

22 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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