Proverbs Chapter 13

¹ Wise children accept their father’s discipline,

but scoffers don’t pay attention to correction.

                  ²From the influence of your words,

                  people respond willingly;

            but treacherous people want to force things through.

³ Be careful what you say, and you’ll save yourself;

talk too much, and you’ll do yourself in.

                  ⁴Lazy people want but don’t get;

            the diligent have a rich supply.

⁵ Good people hate lies,

but sinners act disgracefully.

                  ⁶Goodness protects the blameless;

            sinfulness undermines the sinful.                              

Prov 13:1-6

⁷ One person acts rich but is poor;

another pretends to be poor but is wealthy.

                  ⁸The rich can pay a ransom to save their lives,

            but the poor don’t get kidnapped for ransom.

⁹ The light of the godly shines bright,

but the lamp of the sinful flickers out.

                  ¹⁰Insolence causes division;

            accepting advice brings wisdom.

¹¹ Easy wealth soon dwindles away;

what we work for increases.

                  ¹²Hope delayed makes a heart sick,

            but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.                       

Prov 13:7-12

¹³ Instruction destroys people that hate it;

a commandment rewards those who respect it.

                  ¹⁴Wise teaching is your fountain of life

            for avoiding the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good sense leads to blessing,

but a treacherous mind creates hardship.

                  ¹⁶Prudent people act with insight;

            fools flaunt their foolishness.

¹⁷ An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,

but a faithful envoy can bring detente.

                  ¹⁸We risk poverty and shame by neglecting self-discipline;

            honor comes to us if we value correction.                 

Prov 13:13-18

¹⁹ Seeing dreams come true is pleasant to the soul,

but fools hate to quit sinning.

                  ²⁰When you live with the wise you become wise;

            companions of fools will suffer with them.

²¹ Misfortune follows sinners,

but prosperity rewards the righteous.

                  ²²Good people leave an inheritance for their grandchildren;

            sinners lay up wealth for the godly.

²³ Even fallow ground yields enough to feed the poor,          

but injustice sweeps it all away.

                  ²⁴Those who spare the rod don’t love their children;

            if you care about them, you’ll discipline them.

²⁵ Good people have enough to satisfy their appetite,

but a sinner’s stomach never feels full.                                 

Prov 13:19-25