1 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
butqch. 1:22; See Ps. 1:1 a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a manrch. 12:14 eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherouss[ch. 1:31; 26:6] is for violence.
3 tch. 21:23; [ch. 12:13; 18:21; James 3:2] Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
uch. 20:19 he who opens wide his lipsvch. 18:7 comes to ruin.
4 wSee ch. 6:9-11 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligentxch. 11:25 is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame1Or stench and disgrace.
6 ych. 11:3, 5, 6 Righteousness guards him whosezch. 11:20 way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 ach. 11:24; [Luke 12:21; Rev. 3:17] One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
b[Luke 12:33; 2 Cor. 6:10; James 2:5] another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor manc[ver. 1] hears no threat.
9 d[Job 29:3] The light of the righteous rejoices,
buteSee Job 18:5 the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 f[ch. 28:25] By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 g[ch. 10:2; 20:21; 21:6; 28:20, 22] Wealth gained hastily1Or by fraud will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
h[ver. 19] but a desire fulfilled isiSee ch. 3:18 a tree of life.
13 Whoeverj[ch. 19:16; Num. 15:31; 2 Chr. 36:16] despiseskch. 16:20; Deut. 30:14 the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will bel[ver. 21] rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise ismSee ch. 10:11 a fountain of life,
that one maynch. 14:27; [Ps. 18:5; 2 Tim. 2:26] turn away from the snares of death.
15 o[Luke 2:52]; See Ps. 111:10 Good sense winspch. 3:4; 22:1 favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.1Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut
16 q[ch. 12:23; 15:2] In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,
r[ch. 18:2; Eccles. 10:3] but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
butsch. 25:13; [ch. 14:5] a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him whot[ch. 15:5, 31, 32] ignores instruction,
u[ch. 15:5] but whoeverv[ch. 15:31] heeds reproof is honored.
19 w[ver. 12] A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 x[Ps. 11:6; 32:10] Disaster1Or Evil pursues sinners,
y[ver. 13; Luke 6:38] but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 z[Ezra 9:12; Ps. 37:25] A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
butach. 28:8; See Job 27:16, 17 the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away throughb[ch. 16:8] injustice.
24 c[ch. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13, 14; 29:15, 17] Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.1Or who loves him disciplines him early
25 dSee ch. 10:3 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.