Proverbs - The Old Testament

¹ A wise child listens to a father's discipline, a cynic will not listen to reproof.

² The fruit of the mouth provides a good meal, but the soul of the treacherous feeds on violence.

³ A guard on the mouth makes life secure, whoever talks too much is lost.

⁴ The idler hungers but has no food; hard workers get their fill.

⁵ The upright hates a lying word, but the wicked slanders and defames.

⁶ Uprightness stands guard over one whose way is honest, sin causes the ruin of the wicked.

⁷ There are some who, on nothing, pretend to be rich, some, with great wealth, pretend to be poor.

⁸ The ransom for life is a person's wealth; but the poor will not hear the reproof.

⁹ The light of the upright is joyful, the lamp of the wicked goes out.

¹⁰ Insolence breeds only disputes, wisdom lies with those who take advice.

¹¹ A sudden fortune will dwindle away, accumulation little by little is the way to riches.

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

¹³ Contempt for the word is self-destructive, respect for the commandment wins salvation.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a life-giving fountain for eluding the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good sense wins favour, but the way of the treacherous is hard.

¹⁶ Anyone of discretion acts by the light of knowledge, the fool parades his folly.

¹⁷ A bad messenger falls into misfortune, a trusty messenger brings healing.

¹⁸ Whoever rejects discipline wins poverty and scorn; for anyone who accepts correction: honour.

¹⁹ Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul; fools are loth to turn -- from evil.

²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, whoever mixes with fools will be ruined.

²¹ Evil will pursue the sinner, but good will reward the upright.

²² The good bequeaths a heritage to children's children, the wealth of the sinner is stored away for the upright.

²³ Though the farms of the poor yield much food, some perish for lack of justice.

²⁴ Whoever fails to use the stick hates his child; whoever is free with correction loves him.

²⁵ The upright eats to the full, the belly of the wicked goes empty.