Proverbs 13 - Modern English Version

¹ A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

² A man will eat well by the fruit of his words, but the soul of the unfaithful desires violence.

³ He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips will come to ruin.

⁴ The soul of the sluggard desires and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent will be made fat.

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

⁶ Righteousness guards him whose way is upright, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷ One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another man pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

⁸ The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.

⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

¹⁰ By pride comes only contention, but with the teachable is wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth gained by fraud will dwindle, but he who gathers by hand will increase it.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but the desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³ He who despises instruction will be destroyed, but he who respects a commandment will be rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn a man away from the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding gives favor, but the way of traitors is their destruction.

¹⁶ Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains instruction, but he who heeds reproof will be honored.

¹⁹ The desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer evil.

²¹ Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

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

²³ Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but by injustice it is swept away.

²⁴ He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

²⁵ The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the stomach of the wicked will suffer want.