Proverbs

1A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,but the unfaithful crave violence.

3He who guards his mouth guards his soul.One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

5A righteous man hates lies,but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

6Righteousness guards the way of integrity,but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,but the poor hear no threats.

9The light of the righteous shines brightly,but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10Pride only breeds quarrels,but wisdom is with people who take advice.

11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

14The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,to turn from the snares of death.

15Good understanding wins favour,but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16Every prudent man acts from knowledge,but a fool exposes folly.

17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

18Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,but he who heeds correction shall be honoured.

19Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,but fools detest turning from evil.

20One who walks with wise men grows wise,but a companion of fools suffers harm.

21Misfortune pursues sinners,but prosperity rewards the righteous.

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

23An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,but injustice sweeps it away.

24One who spares the rod hates his son,but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul,but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

A Father’s Discipline

1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,but the desire of the faithless is violence.

3He who guards his mouth protects his life,but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

4The slacker craves yet has nothing,but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

5The righteous hate falsehood,but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

6Righteousness guards the man of integrity,but wickedness undermines the sinner.

7One pretends to be rich, but has nothing;another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8Riches may ransom a man’s life,but a poor man hears no threat.

9The light of the righteous shines brightly,but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

10Arrogance leads only to strife,but wisdom is with the well-advised.

11Dishonest wealth will dwindle,but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty,but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

14The teachingof the wise is a fountain of life,turning one from the snares of death.

15Good understanding wins favor,but the way of the faithless is difficult.

16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,but a fool displays his folly.

17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline,but whoever heeds correction is honored.

19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,but turning from evil is detestable to fools.

20He who walks with the wise will become wise,but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21Disaster pursues sinners,but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.

23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,but without justice it is swept away.

24He who spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

25A righteous man eats to his heart’s content,but the stomach of the wicked is empty.