Proverbs 13:15-25

15 ¹Good sense wins ²favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. ^[a]

16 ³In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, ⁴but a fool flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but ⁵a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ⁶ignores instruction, ⁷but whoever ⁸heeds reproof is honored.

19 ⁹A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21 ¹⁰Disaster^[b] pursues sinners, ¹¹but the righteous are rewarded with good.

22 ¹²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but ¹³the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.

23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through ¹⁴injustice.

24 ¹⁵Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. ^[c]

25 ¹⁶The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Cross References

• 1. 13:15 [Luke 2:52]; See Ps. 111:10
• 2. 13:15 ch. 3:4; 22:1
• 3. 13:16 [ch. 12:23; 15:2]
• 4. 13:16 [ch. 18:2; Eccles. 10:3]
• 5. 13:17 ch. 25:13; [ch. 14:5]
• 6. 13:18 [ch. 15:5, 31, 32]
• 7. 13:18 [ch. 15:5]
• 8. 13:18 [ch. 15:31]
• 9. 13:19 [ver. 12]
• 10. 13:21 [Ps. 11:6; 32:10]
• 11. 13:21 [ver. 13; Luke 6:38]
• 12. 13:22 [Ezra 9:12; Ps. 37:25]
• 13. 13:22 ch. 28:8; See Job 27:16, 17
• 14. 13:23 [ch. 16:8]
• 15. 13:24 [ch. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13, 14; 29:15, 17]
• 16. 13:25 See ch. 10:3

Footnotes

• [a] 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew 'is rugged', or 'is an enduring rut'
• [b] 13:21 Or 'Evil'
• [c] 13:24 Or 'who loves him disciplines him early'