Proverbs 13; Proverbs 14; Proverbs 15

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Proverbs 13

1 Wise children pay attention when their parents correct them, but arrogant people never admit they are wrong.
2 Good people will be rewarded for what they say, but those who are deceitful are hungry for violence.
3 Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself.
4 No matter how much a lazy person may want something, he will never get it. A hard worker will get everything he wants.
5 Honest people hate lies, but the words of wicked people are shameful and disgraceful.
6 Righteousness protects the innocent; wickedness is the downfall of sinners.
7 Some people pretend to be rich, but have nothing. Others pretend to be poor, but own a fortune.
8 The rich have to use their money to save their lives, but no one threatens the poor.
9 The righteous are like a light shining brightly; the wicked are like a lamp flickering out.
10 Arrogance causes nothing but trouble. It is wiser to ask for advice.
11 The more easily you get your wealth, the sooner you will lose it. The harder it is to earn, the more you will have.
12 When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, but a wish come true fills you with joy.
13 If you refuse good advice, you are asking for trouble; follow it and you are safe.
14 The teachings of the wise are a fountain of life; they will help you escape when your life is in danger.
15 Intelligence wins respect, but those who can't be trusted are on the road to ruin.
16 Sensible people always think before they act, but stupid people advertise their ignorance.
17 Unreliable messengers cause trouble, but those who can be trusted bring peace.
18 Someone who will not learn will be poor and disgraced. Anyone who listens to correction is respected.
19 How good it is to get what you want! Stupid people refuse to turn away from evil.
20 Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.
21 Trouble follows sinners everywhere, but righteous people will be rewarded with good things.
22 Good people will have wealth to leave to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners will go to the righteous.
23 Unused fields could yield plenty of food for the poor, but unjust people keep them from being farmed.
24 If you don't punish your children, you don't love them. If you do love them, you will correct them.
25 The righteous have enough to eat, but the wicked are always hungry.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

Proverbs 14

1 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.
2 Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not.
3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.
4 Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.
5 A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.
6 Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily.
7 Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you.
8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows.
9 Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.
10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
11 A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed.
12 What you think is the right road may lead to death.
13 Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there.
14 Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds.
15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step.
16 Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly.
17 People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.
18 Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor.
20 No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.
22 You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake.
23 Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known by their foolishness.
25 A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people.
26 Reverence for the Lord gives confidence and security to a man and his family.
27 Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life.
28 A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing.
29 If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.
30 Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.
31 If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.
32 Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.
33 Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothing about wisdom.
34 Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.
35 Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

Proverbs 15

1 A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.
2 When wise people speak, they make knowledge attractive, but stupid people spout nonsense.
3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere; he is watching us, whether we do good or evil.
4 Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.
5 It is foolish to ignore what your parents taught you; it is wise to accept their correction.
6 Righteous people keep their wealth, but the wicked lose theirs when hard times come.
7 Knowledge is spread by people who are wise, not by fools.
8 The Lord is pleased when good people pray, but hates the sacrifices that the wicked bring him.
9 The Lord hates the ways of evil people, but loves those who do what is right.
10 If you do what is wrong, you will be severely punished; you will die if you do not let yourself be corrected.
11 Not even the world of the dead can keep the Lord from knowing what is there; how then can we hide our thoughts from God?
12 Conceited people do not like to be corrected; they never ask for advice from those who are wiser.
13 When people are happy, they smile, but when they are sad, they look depressed.
14 Intelligent people want to learn, but stupid people are satisfied with ignorance.
15 The life of the poor is a constant struggle, but happy people always enjoy life.
16 Better to be poor and fear the Lord than to be rich and in trouble.
17 Better to eat vegetables with people you love than to eat the finest meat where there is hate.
18 Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.
19 If you are lazy, you will meet difficulty everywhere, but if you are honest, you will have no trouble.
20 Wise children make their fathers happy. Only fools despise their mothers.
21 Stupid people are happy with their foolishness, but the wise will do what is right.
22 Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed; without it you will fail.
23 What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion!
24 Wise people walk the road that leads upward to life, not the road that leads downward to death.
25 The Lord will destroy the homes of arrogant men, but he will protect a widow's property.
26 The Lord hates evil thoughts, but he is pleased with friendly words.
27 Try to make a profit dishonestly, and you get your family in trouble. Don't take bribes and you will live longer.
28 Good people think before they answer. Evil people have a quick reply, but it causes trouble.
29 When good people pray, the Lord listens, but he ignores those who are evil.
30 Smiling faces make you happy, and good news makes you feel better.
31 If you pay attention when you are corrected, you are wise.
32 If you refuse to learn, you are hurting yourself. If you accept correction, you will become wiser.
33 Reverence for the Lord is an education in itself. You must be humble before you can ever receive honors.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.