1A wise child loves discipline,13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father

but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2From the fruit of their words good people eat good things,

but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.

3Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;

those who open wide their lips come to ruin.

4The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing,

while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.

5The righteous hate falsehood,

but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.

6Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

7Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing;

others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

8Wealth is a ransom for a person's life,

but the poor get no threats.

9The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked goes out.

10By insolence the heedless make strife,

but wisdom is with those who take advice.

11Wealth hastily gained13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity will dwindle,

but those who gather little by little will increase it.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves,

but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

so that one may avoid the snares of death.

15Good sense wins favour,

but the way of the faithless is their ruin.13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring

16The clever do all things intelligently,

but the fool displays folly.

17A bad messenger brings trouble,

but a faithful envoy, healing.

18Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,

but one who heeds reproof is honoured.

19A desire realized 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 suffers harm.

21Misfortune pursues sinners,

but prosperity rewards the righteous.

22The good leave an inheritance to their children's children,

but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

23The field of the poor may yield much food,

but it is swept away through injustice.

24Those who spare the rod hate their children,

but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.

25The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,

but the belly of the wicked is empty.