Proverbs 13

Walk with the Wise ¹Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.

²    The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation;
   bullies push and shove their way through life.

³    Careful words make for a careful life;
   careless talk may ruin everything.

⁴    Indolence wants it all and gets nothing;
   the energetic have something to show for their lives.

⁵    A good person hates false talk;
   a bad person wallows in gibberish.

⁶    A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
   sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.

⁷    A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
   a plain and simple life is a full life.

⁸    The rich can be sued for everything they have,
   but the poor are free of such threats.

⁹    The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
   the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.

¹⁰    Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
   but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.

¹¹    Easy come, easy go,
   but steady diligence pays off.

¹²    Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
   but a sudden good break can turn life around.

¹³    Ignore the Word and suffer;
   honor God's commands and grow rich.

¹⁴    The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
   so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!

¹⁵    Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
   but liars walk a rough road.

¹⁶    A commonsense person lives good sense;
   fools litter the country with silliness.

¹⁷    Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
   but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.

¹⁸    Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
   embrace correction and live an honored life.

¹⁹    Souls who follow their hearts thrive;
   fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.

²⁰    Become wise by walking with the wise;
   hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

²¹    Disaster entraps sinners,
   but God-loyal people get a good life.

²²    A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren;
   ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.

²³    Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor,
   or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.

²⁴    A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
   love your children by disciplining them.

²⁵    An appetite for good brings much satisfaction,
   but the belly of the wicked always wants more.