Wise friends make you wise

1Children with good sense

accept correction

from their parents,

but stubborn children

ignore it completely.

2You will be well rewarded

for saying something kind,

but all some people think about

is how to be cruel and mean.

3Keep what you know to yourself,

and you will be safe;

talk too much,

and you are done for.

4No matter how much you want,

laziness won't help a bit,

but hard work will reward you

with more than enough.

5A good person hates deceit,

but those who are evil

cause shame and disgrace.

6Live right, and you are safe!

But sin will destroy you.

7Some who have nothing

may pretend to be rich,

and some who have everything

may pretend to be poor.

8The rich may have

to pay a ransom,

but the poor don't have

that problem.

9The lamp of a good person

keeps on shining;

the lamp of an evil person

soon goes out.

10Too much pride causes trouble.

Be sensible and take advice.

11Money wrongly got

will disappear bit by bit;

money earned little by little

will grow and grow.

12Not getting what you want

can make you feel sick,

but a wish that comes true

is a life-giving tree.

13If you reject God's teaching,

you will pay the price;

if you obey his commands,

you will be rewarded.

14Sensible instruction

is a life-giving fountain

that helps you escape

all deadly traps.

15Sound judgment is praised,

but people without good sense

are on the way to disaster.13.15 people…disaster: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

16If you have good sense,

you will act sensibly,

but fools act like fools.

17Whoever delivers your message

can make things better

or worse for you.

18All who refuse correction

will be poor and disgraced;

all who accept correction

will be praised.

19It's a good feeling

to get what you want,

but only a stupid fool

hates to turn from evil.

20Wise friends make you wise,

but you hurt yourself

by going around with fools.

21You are in for trouble

if you sin,

but you will be rewarded

if you live right.

22If you obey God,

you will have something

to leave your grandchildren.

If you don't obey God,

those who live right

will get what you leave.

23Even when the land of the poor

produces good crops,

they get cheated

out of what they grow.13.23 grow: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 23.

24If you love your children,

you will correct them;

if you don't love them,

you won't correct them.

25If you live right,

you will have plenty to eat;

if you don't live right,

you will go away empty.