Wise Speech and Guarding Your Mouth
Study note
These proverbs emphasize that a wise child listens to a parent's correction, while a mocker refuses to listen. Guarding your mouth protects your life, but speaking carelessly leads to destruction. Righteous character acts as a guard for your whole life.
1 A wise child welcomes a parent's correction, but a mocker plugs their ears when someone tries to set them straight. A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 Good things come to the person who speaks helpful words. But people who can't be trusted have a hunger for conflict. A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 Watch what you say and you will protect your whole life. Run your mouth without thinking and you will wreck everything. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 Lazy people want a lot but end up with nothing. People who work hard get everything they are after. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 People who live right cannot stand lies. But wicked people live in ways that are gross and shameful. A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 When you live with integrity, righteousness acts like a bodyguard around you. But wickedness takes down anyone who lives in sin. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
True Wealth and the Power of Hope
Study note
Verse 12 contains the famous saying, 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick,' meaning that waiting too long for something you deeply want is painful. But when that desire is finally fulfilled, it is like a tree of life. These proverbs also teach that appearances can be deceiving: some pretend to be rich but have nothing, while others seem poor but are actually wealthy.
7 Some people act like they are wealthy when they own nothing. Others live like they are poor when they are secretly loaded. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 Being rich might save your life in a crisis, but a poor person never gets threatened that way in the first place. The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The life of a good person radiates light, but the life of a wicked person goes dark. The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Arguments happen because somebody is too proud to bend. Real wisdom shows up in the people who are willing to take advice. Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Easy money vanishes fast, but wealth that you build up slowly, one step at a time, keeps growing. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Waiting and waiting for something to happen can make your heart feel sick. But when you finally get what you have been hoping for, it fills your soul with new life. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Ignore good advice and you will pay the price. Respect it and good things will come back to you. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 What a wise person teaches is like a spring of fresh water. It steers people away from the traps that lead to death. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The Value of Good Friends and Discipline
Study note
Walking with wise people makes you wise, while keeping company with fools leads to harm. Good understanding earns respect, while the path of those who betray trust is hard and rocky. These proverbs encourage choosing your companions carefully.
15 Having good sense earns you people's respect. But the way of life of the unfaithful is a hard, rough road. Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Wise people think before they act, but a fool puts their ignorance on full display. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
17 A bad runner starts problems everywhere. But a trusted one brings just what is needed. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 If you ignore correction, you will end up broke and embarrassed. If you welcome correction, people will honor you. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 Getting what you have been wanting feels wonderful deep in your soul, but fools refuse to give up their evil ways to get there. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Walk with wise people and their wisdom rubs off on you. Hang around with fools and it will cost you dearly. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
A Good Inheritance and Loving Discipline
Study note
A good person leaves an inheritance not just for their children but for their grandchildren. The chapter ends with the well-known saying about discipline: a parent who truly loves their child corrects them. In the ancient world, discipline was seen as an essential part of love, not its opposite.
21 Trouble stalks people who keep sinning, but good things are the reward waiting for those who do right. Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
22 A good person builds wealth for their grandchildren. But what the wicked pile up goes to the righteous in the end. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 A poor family's field might grow an abundance of food, but injustice comes along and steals it away. Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
24 A parent who never corrects their child does not love them. A parent who truly loves their child is intentional about guiding them. He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 Those who do right always have enough to eat, but the wicked go to bed with empty stomachs. The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.