Chapter 13

Proverbs

1A wise son hears his father’s instruction,but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.2From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.3Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.5The righteous hates falsehood,but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,but sin overthrows the wicked.7One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.8The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,but a poor man hears no threat.9The light of the righteous rejoices,but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.10By insolence comes nothing but strife,but with those who take advice is wisdom.11Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.13Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,that one may turn away from the snares of death.15Good sense wins favor,but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,but a fool flaunts his folly.17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,but a faithful envoy brings healing.18Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,but whoever heeds reproof is honored.19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.20Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,but the companion of fools will suffer harm.21Disaster pursues sinners,but the righteous are rewarded with good.22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.23The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,but it is swept away through injustice.24Whoever spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated into any other language.