1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,

but *ch. 1:22;See Ps. 1:1a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2 From the fruit of his mouth a man *ch. 12:14eats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous *[ch. 1:31;26:6]is for violence.

3 *ch. 21:23;[ch. 12:13;18:21;James 3:2] Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

*ch. 20:19he who opens wide his lips *ch. 18:7comes to ruin.

4 *See ch. 6:9-11The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent *ch. 11:25is richly supplied.

5 The righteous hates falsehood,

but the wicked brings shame*13:5 Or stench and disgrace.

6 *ch. 11:3,5,6Righteousness guards him whose *ch. 11:20way is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

7 *ch. 11:24;[Luke 12:21;Rev. 3:17] One pretends to be rich,*13:7 Or One makes himself rich yet has nothing;

*[Luke 12:33;2 Cor. 6:10;James 2:5]another pretends to be poor,*13:7 Or another makes himself poor yet has great wealth.

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,

but a poor man *[ver. 1]hears no threat.

9 *[Job 29:3] The light of the righteous rejoices,

but *See Job 18:5the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 *[ch. 28:25]By insolence comes nothing but strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

11 *[ch. 10:2;20:21;21:6;28:20,22]Wealth gained hastily*13:11 Or by fraud will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

*[ver. 19] but a desire fulfilled is *See ch. 3:18a tree of life.

13 Whoever *[ch. 19:16;Num. 15:31;2 Chr. 36:16] despises *ch. 16:20;Deut. 30:14the word*13:13 Or a word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment*13:13 Or a commandment will be *[ver. 21]rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is *See ch. 10:11a fountain of life,

that one may *ch. 14:27;[Ps. 18:5;2 Tim. 2:26]turn away from the snares of death.

15 *[Luke 2:52]; See Ps. 111:10Good sense wins *ch. 3:4;22:1favor,

but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.*13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut

16 *[ch. 12:23;15:2] Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

*[ch. 18:2;Eccles. 10:3]but a fool flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but *ch. 25:13;[ch. 14:5]a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who *[ch. 15:5,31,32] ignores instruction,

*[ch. 15:5] but whoever *[ch. 15:31]heeds reproof is honored.

19 *[ver. 12]A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21 *[Ps. 11:6;32:10] Disaster*13:21 Or Evil pursues sinners,

*[ver. 13; Luke 6:38]but the righteous are rewarded with good.

22 *[Ezra 9:12;Ps. 37:25] A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

but *ch. 28:8;See Job 27:16,17the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,

but it is swept away through *[ch. 16:8]injustice.

24 *[ch. 19:18;22:15;23:13,14;29:15,17]Whoever spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.*13:24 Or who loves him disciplines him early

25 *See ch. 10:3The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want.