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

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

2 F rom the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous -- violence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 T here is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth abundant.

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 his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.

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

9 T he light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

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

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

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

11 W ealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

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

12 H ope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life the coming desire.

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

13 W hoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.

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 law of the wise a fountain of life, To turn aside from 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 giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous hard.

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

16 E very prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.

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

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

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

18 W hoso is refusing instruction -- poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.

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

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools: Turn from evil.

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

20 W hoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.

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

21 E vil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.

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

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

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

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

24 W hoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.

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

25 T he righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!

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