Proverbs 13

¹A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;^a

a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

²Wise words will win you a good meal,

but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

³Those who control their tongue will have a long life;

opening your mouth can ruin everything.

⁴Lazy people want much but get little,

but those who work hard will prosper.

⁵The godly hate lies;

the wicked cause shame and disgrace.

⁶Godliness guards the path of the blameless,

but the evil are misled by sin.

⁷Some who are poor pretend to be rich;

others who are rich pretend to be poor.

⁸The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,

but the poor won’t even get threatened.

⁹The life of the godly is full of light and joy,

but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

¹⁰Pride leads to conflict;

those who take advice are wise.

¹¹Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;

wealth from hard work grows over time.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³People who despise advice are asking for trouble;

those who respect a command will succeed.

¹⁴The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;

those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

¹⁵A person with good sense is respected;

a treacherous person is headed for destruction.^b

¹⁶Wise people think before they act;

fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

¹⁷An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,

but a reliable messenger brings healing.

¹⁸If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;

if you accept correction, you will be honored.

¹⁹It is pleasant to see dreams come true,

but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

²⁰Walk with the wise and become wise;

associate with fools and get in trouble.

²¹Trouble chases sinners,

while blessings reward the righteous.

²²Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,

but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.

²³A poor person’s farm may produce much food,

but injustice sweeps it all away.

²⁴Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.

Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

²⁵The godly eat to their hearts’ content,

but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.