1 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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

2 B y the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

3 H e who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4 T he soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

5 A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.

6 R ighteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness subverts the sinner.

7 T here are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

8 T he ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke.

9 T he light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

10 P ride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

11 W ealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

12 H ope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 W hoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 T he teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

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

15 G ood understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard.

16 E very prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

A wicked messenger falls into adversity, But a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 P overty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored.

19 L onging fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

Desire realized is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.

20 O ne who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

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

21 M isfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

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

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

23 A n abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.

24 O ne who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

25 T he righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, But the stomach of the wicked is in need.