Proverbs 13

1 A wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent] son heeds [listens to, obeys] his father’s [parental, ancestral] discipline [correction, instruction], but a mocker [scoffer, scorner] does not listen [pay attention, heed] to rebuke [stern warning, correction]. word study 2 From the fruit [produce, result] of his lips [mouth, words] a man [individual, person] enjoys [eats, experiences] good things [pleasant, beneficial], but the desire [soul, longing] of the faithless [unfaithful, treacherous] is [craves, seeks] violence [injustice, cruelty]. word study 3 He who guards [watches over, keeps safe] his mouth [lips, speech] protects [keeps, watches over] his life [soul, being], but the one who opens [disparts, becomes licentious] his lips [language, words] invites [brings upon himself] his own ruin [terror, destruction, calamity]. word study 4 The slacker [lazy, hater of work] craves [desires strongly, lusteth] yet has [possesses, obtains] nothing [no thing, absence], but the soul [living being, essence] of the diligent [hard workers, sharp] is fully satisfied [made fat, prospered, to anoint]. word study 5 The righteous [just, upright] hate [to abhor, feel intense dislike] falsehood [deception, lies], but the wicked [morally wrong, guilty] bring [cause to come, lead to] shame [disgrace, humiliation] and disgrace [reproach, a bad name]. word study 6 Righteousness [moral integrity, virtue] guards [watches over, protects] the man of integrity [upright in the way, morally pure], but wickedness [guilt, wrong actions] undermines [overthrows, corrupts] the sinner [one who misses the mark, is guilty of sin]. word study 7 One pretends [makes himself appear] to be rich [wealthy, having an abundance], but has [possesses, owns] nothing [no substance, emptiness]; another pretends [feigns, appears] to be poor [destitute, lacking], yet has [possesses, owns] great [abundant, plentiful] wealth [riches, substance]. word study 8 Riches [wealth, treasures] may ransom [pay a redemption price, save] a man’s [person’s, individual’s] life [soul, living being], but a poor [destitute, needy] man [person, individual] hears [listens, pays attention to] no [not any] threat [rebuke, stern warning, correction]. word study 9 The light of the righteous [those made right with God, just] shines brightly [rejoices, gives joy], but the lamp [a device for spiritual guidance] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] is extinguished [put out, snuffed out]. word study 10 Arrogance [pride, insolence] leads only [except] to strife [contention, quarrels], but wisdom [skill, prudence, good judgment] is with [near, in close relationship] the well-advised [those who take counsel, guided by wisdom]. word study 11 Dishonest [gained by vanity, quickly gotten] wealth [substance, riches] will dwindle [be diminished, become less], but what is earned [gathered by labor, collected bit by bit] through hard work [with the hand, by little and little] will be multiplied [increased, made to grow]. word study 12 Hope [delayed expectation, trust in something or someone] deferred makes the heart [the feelings, the will, the mind] sick, but desire [longing, yearning] fulfilled is a tree [strong and firm object] of life [physical or spiritual, being alive]. word study 13 He who despises [despises with contempt, holds in low esteem] instruction [words of advice, guidance] will pay the penalty [suffer destruction, be punished], but the one who respects [fears with reverence, honors] a command [law, divine instruction] will be rewarded [repaid, blessed with peace]. word study 14 The teaching [instruction, law] of the wise [skilled, prudent] is a fountain [source of life, spring] of life [physical and spiritual], turning [to turn aside, depart] one from the snares [traps, dangers] of death [physical and spiritual ruin]. word study 15 Good [pleasant, beneficial] understanding [prudence, intelligence] wins [gives, grants] favor [graciousness, kindness], but the way [road, path, manner of life] of the faithless [transgressors, unfaithful] is [will be, becomes] difficult [hard, strong]. word study 16 Every [all, completely] prudent [wise, discerning] man acts [deals, works] with [from, based on] knowledge [understanding, wisdom], but a [stupid, foolish] fool [one who is silly, absurd] displays [lays open, spreads out] his [own, personal] folly [foolishness, silliness]. word study 17 A [morally wrong, sinful] wicked messenger [of the wicked, a bad person] falls [is defeated] into [moral or natural] trouble, but a [trustworthy, reliable] faithful envoy [ambassador] brings [causes, results in] healing [a cure, deliverance, peace]. word study 18 Poverty [need, lack of material possessions] and shame [dishonor, feelings of disgrace] come to him who ignores [refuses, neglects] discipline [correction, guidance], but whoever heeds [regards, obeys] correction [rebuke, reproof] is honored [glorified, respected]. word study 19 Desire [longing, craving] fulfilled is sweet [delightful, pleasing] to the soul [the essence of a person, living being], but turning [to depart, turn aside] from evil [bad, morally wrong] is detestable [an abomination, disgusting] to fools [stupid people, those who reject God]. word study 20 He who walks [goes, associates] with the wise [intelligent, discerning] will become wise [prudent, insightful], but the companion [close friend, associate] of fools [stupid, silly people] will be destroyed [broken, afflicted, suffer harm]. word study 21 Disaster [tragedy, evil, affliction] pursues [chases after, follows with hostile intent] sinners [those who have committed a crime or sin, the guilty], but prosperity [good, welfare, pleasant things] is the reward [recompense, repayment] of the righteous [those who are just, made right with God, having God’s nature]. word study 22 A [morally upright, righteous] good man leaves [bequeaths, causes to inherit] an inheritance [a lasting legacy, heritage] to his children’s [descendants, offspring] children, but the [unrighteous, wicked] sinner’s [one who misses the mark, rebels against God] wealth [riches, treasure] is passed [laid up, stored] to the [just, morally upright] righteous. word study 23 Abundant [plentiful, overflowing] food [nourishment, sustenance] is in the fallow ground [unplowed land, tillage] of the poor [destitute, needy], but without [lacking, absent] justice [righteous judgment] it is swept away [destroyed, consumed, snatched]. word study 24 He who [withholds, refrains from] spares the rod [a rod or staff, a sceptre] hates [feels intense dislike, is hostile towards] his son, but he who [truly, deeply] loves [has affection for] him disciplines [corrects, guides, chastens] him [early, with care] diligently [with earnestness, careful attention]. word study 25 A [morally upright, just] righteous [having a right relationship with God] man eats [to devour, consume] to his heart’s [soul’s, inner being’s] content [satisfaction, fullness], but the stomach [belly, innermost being] of the [morally wrong, guilty] wicked [those who oppose God] is [will be, remains] empty [lacking, in need]. word study