1A wise son heeds a father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2From the fruit of his mouth a person eats good, but the appetite of the treacherous is violence.
3The one who guards his mouth keeps his life; the one who opens wide his lips—ruin is his.
4The sluggard craves, yet has nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is richly satisfied.
5The righteous hates a false word, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, but wickedness overturns the sinner.
7There is one who makes himself rich yet has nothing, and one who makes himself poor yet has great wealth.
8A man’s wealth is the ransom for his life, but the poor hears no threat.
9The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10By insolence comes only strife, but with those who take counsel is wisdom.
11Wealth from vapor dwindles, but the one who gathers by hand increases it.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13Whoever despises a word will be destroyed by it, but the one who fears a commandment will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one away from the snares of death.
15Good insight gives favor, but the way of the treacherous is hard.
16Every prudent person acts with knowledge, but a fool spreads out folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and shame come to the one who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is an abomination to fools.
20Walk with the wise and become wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21Evil pursues sinners, but good rewards the righteous.
22A good person leaves an inheritance to children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23The fallow ground of the poor yields much food, but it is swept away for lack of justice.
24The one who withholds his rod hates his son, but the one who loves him seeks him with discipline.
25The righteous eats to the satisfaction of his appetite, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
Open in the interactive reader →