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

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

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

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

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

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. 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 desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

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

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

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

Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

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

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have 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 riches, but the poor hear no threats.

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

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

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

Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

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

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

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

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

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

Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command 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 spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

15 G ood understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous hard.

Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

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

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

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

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

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

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

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

Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

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

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

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

Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

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, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

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

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

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

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

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

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