The chapter opens with a contrast between the wise son who heeds his father's instruction and the mocker who does not respond to rebuke. Speech then becomes a source of fruit or violence: people enjoy good from the fruit of their lips, but the unfaithful crave violence. Guarding the lips preserves life, while rash speech brings ruin. The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
1 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
Proverbs 13:2
2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
Proverbs 13:3
3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 13:4
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
The righteous hate what is false, while the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame. Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. Some pretend to be rich and have nothing; others pretend to be poor and have great wealth. A person's riches may ransom his life, but the poor may hear no threat.
5 A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
Proverbs 13:6
6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Proverbs 13:7
7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
Proverbs 13:8
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, while the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. Pride breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Dishonest or hastily gained money dwindles, while the one who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Proverbs 13:9
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
Proverbs 13:10
10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.
Proverbs 13:11
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. The one who scorns instruction will pay for it, while the one who respects a command is rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
Proverbs 13:12
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:13
13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:14
14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.
Good judgment wins favor, while the way of the unfaithful is hard. The prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. A wicked messenger falls into trouble, while a trustworthy envoy brings healing. Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Fulfilled desire is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
Proverbs 13:18
18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
Proverbs 13:19
19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
Walking with the wise makes one wise, while the companion of fools suffers harm. Trouble pursues the sinner, but prosperity rewards the righteous. A good person leaves an inheritance for children's children, while a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. An unplowed field of the poor may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
Proverbs 13:20
20 One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
Proverbs 13:22
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
Proverbs 13:23
23 An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.
The one who spares the rod hates his child, but the one who loves the child is careful to discipline. The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry. The chapter closes by joining loving correction and righteous satisfaction against the ruinous lack produced by wickedness.
Proverbs 13:24
24 One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Proverbs 13:25
25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.