13¹ A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

² From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

³ He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴ The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

⁵ A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully.

⁶ Righteousness guards him whose way is upright, but sin overthrows the wicked.

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

⁸ The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man has no means of redemption.

⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

¹⁰ By insolence the heedless make strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it.

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

¹³ He who despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good sense wins favor, but the way of the faithless is their ruin.

¹⁶ In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

¹⁷ A bad messenger plunges men into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

¹⁸ Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.

¹⁹ A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul; but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

²⁰ He who walks with wise men becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

²¹ Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

²³ The fallow ground of the poor yields much food, but it is swept away through injustice.

²⁴ He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

²⁵ The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; ² for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you. ³ Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. ¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, ¹⁴ for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy. ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; ²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight, ²² and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. ²³ Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; ²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" --when you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you. ³⁰ Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; ³² for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. ³³ The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. ³⁴ Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor. ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.