Wisdom Loves Righteousness

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1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,

​​But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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2 ​​A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,

​​But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

3 ​​He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

​​But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

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4 ​​The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;

​​But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

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5 ​​A righteous man hates lying,

​​But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

6 ​​Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

​​But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

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7 ​​There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;

​​And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

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8 ​​The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,

​​But the poor does not hear rebuke.

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9 ​​The light of the righteous rejoices,

​​But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

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10 ​​By pride comes nothing but strife,

​​But with the well-advised is wisdom.

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11 ​​Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,

​​But he who gathers by labor will increase.

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12 ​​Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

​​But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

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13 ​​He who despises the word will be destroyed,

​​But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 ​​The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

​​To turn one away from the snares of death.

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15 ​​Good understanding gains favor,

​​But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 ​​Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

​​But a fool lays open his folly.

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17 ​​A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

​​But a faithful ambassador brings health.

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18 ​​Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,

​​But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

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19 ​​A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,

​​But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

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20 ​​He who walks with wise men will be wise,

​​But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

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21 ​​Evil pursues sinners,

​​But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

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22 ​​A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

​​But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

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23 ​​Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor,

​​And for lack of justice there is waste.[fn]

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24 ​​He who spares his rod hates his son,

​​But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

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25 ​​The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,

​​But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

For deeper study: David Guzik Commentary