A Wise Son Heeds his Father's Instruction

1A wise son — the instruction of a father, And a scorner — he hath not heard rebuke.

2From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous — violence.

3Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips — ruin to him!

4The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.

5A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.

6Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.

7There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.

8The ransom of a man’s life [are] his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.

9The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

10A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled [is] wisdom.

11Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

12Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.

13Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.

14The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.

15Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.

16Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.

17A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.

18Whoso is refusing instruction — poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.

19A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [is]: Turn from evil.

20Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.

21Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.

22A good man causeth sons’ sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous [is] the sinner’s wealth.

23Abundance of food — the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.

24Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.

25The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!