131
A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things;
but the unfaithful crave violence.
3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,
but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
5 A righteous man hates lies,
but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.
There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
but the poor hear no threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Pride only breeds quarrels,
but with ones who take advice is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,
to turn from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor;
but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
but a fool exposes folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,
but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning from evil.
20 One who walks with wise men grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23 An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24 One who spares the rod hates his son,
but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul,
but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
131 A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
4 The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
5 The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame.
6 Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin.
7 A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
8 A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words.
9 There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out.
10 The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
11 Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.
12 Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death.
15 Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction.
16 A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
17 A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.
18 Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.
19 To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.
20 Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
21 Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
22 The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man.
23 There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing.
24 He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.
25 The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
131 A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous [shall eat] violence.
3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; [But] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
21 Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
23 Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.
131 A wise son—the instruction of a father, And a scorner—he hath not heard rebuke.
2 From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous—violence.
3 Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!
4 The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.
6 Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.
7 There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth 'is' abundant.
8 The ransom of a man's life 'are' his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled 'is' wisdom.
11 Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.
12 Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life 'is' the coming desire.
13 Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.
14 The law of the wise 'is' a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous 'is' hard.
16 Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
18 Whoso is refusing instruction—poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.
19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools 'is': Turn from evil.
20 Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.
21 Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.
22 A good man causeth sons' sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous 'is' the sinner's wealth.
23 Abundance of food—the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.
24 Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.
25 The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!
