Passage: Proverbs 13, 14, 15 (RSV)


Proverbs 13


1A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully.
6Righteousness guards him whose way is upright, but sin overthrows the wicked.
7One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man has no means of redemption.
9The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10By insolence the heedless make strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13He who despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.
15Good sense wins favor, but the way of the faithless is their ruin.
16In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
17A bad messenger plunges men into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.
19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul; but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20He who walks with wise men becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23The fallow ground of the poor yields much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Proverbs 14


1Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3The talk of a fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his favor.
10The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
13Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief.
14A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.
15The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.
16A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.
18The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but happy is he who is kind to the poor.
22Do they not err that devise evil? Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.
23In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to want.
24The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools.
25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
26In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.
28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
29He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.
31He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity.
33Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools.
34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 15


1A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who heeds admonition is prudent.
6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the minds of fools.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof will die.
11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, how much more the hearts of men!
12A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
13A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
14The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15All the days of the afflicted are evil, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, but a man of understanding walks aright.
22Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.
23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
24The wise man's path leads upward to life, that he may avoid Sheol beneath.
25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow's boundaries.
26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, the words of the pure are pleasing to him.
27He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
28The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
31He whose ear heeds wholesome admonition will abide among the wise.
32He who ignores instruction despises himself, but he who heeds admonition gains understanding.
33The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.



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