Proverbs 13

A wise son heeds his father

A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.a ²Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.b ³Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.c

⁴Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.d ⁵The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace.e 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.f 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.g

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

¹³People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.j 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.k

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.l ²¹Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.m

²²Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.n 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.o

²⁵The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.