13:1  A WISE son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father's instruction {and} correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.

13:2  A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

13:3  He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

13:4  The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.

13:5  A [consistently] righteous man hates lying {and} deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome [his very breath spreads pollution] and he comes [surely] to shame.

13:6  Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin {and} overthrows the sinner.

13:7  One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing [to keep permanently]; another man considers himself poor, yet has great [and indestructible] riches.

13:8  A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats [from the envious].

13:9  The light of the [uncompromisingly] righteous [is within him--it grows brighter and] rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked [furnishes only a derived, temporary light and] shall be put out shortly.

13:10  By pride {and} insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful {and} godly Wisdom.

13:11  Wealth [not earned but] won in haste {or} unjustly {or} from the production of things for vain {or} detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].

13:12  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

13:13  Whoever despises the word {and} counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears {and} respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded.

13:14  The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

13:15  Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].

13:16  Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes {and} flaunts his folly.

13:17  A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing.

13:18  Poverty and shame come to him who refuses instruction {and} correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.

13:19  Satisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful {and} exceedingly offensive to [self-confident] fools to give up evil [upon which they have set their hearts].

13:20  He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.

13:21  Evil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright {and} in right standing with God is recompensed with good.

13:22  A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

13:23  Much food is in the tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice.

13:24  He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently {and} punishes him early.

13:25  The [uncompromisingly] righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.