1A wise son hears his father's instruction,

but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good,

but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

3He who 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.

5A righteous man hates falsehood,

but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully.

6Righteousness guards him whose way is upright,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

7One man 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 has no means of redemption.13.8 Cn: Heb does not hear rebuke

9The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10By insolence the heedless make strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

11Wealth hastily gotten13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity will dwindle,

but he who gathers little by little will increase it.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13He who despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded.

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

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

16In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge,

but a fool flaunts his folly.

17A bad messenger plunges men into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,

but he who heeds reproof is honoured.

19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul;

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

20He who walks with wise men becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21Misfortune pursues sinners,

but prosperity rewards the righteous.

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 yields much food,

but it is swept away through injustice.

24He who 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.