A Father’s Discipline

¹ A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,

but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

² From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,

but the desire of the faithless is violence.

³ He who guards his mouth protects his life,

but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

⁴ The slacker craves yet has nothing,

but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.

⁵ The righteous hate falsehood,

but the wicked bring shame^* and disgrace.

⁶ Righteousness guards the man of integrity,

but wickedness undermines the sinner.

⁷ One pretends to be rich,^* but has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

⁸ Riches may ransom a man’s life,

but a poor man hears no threat.^*

⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly,

but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

¹⁰ Arrogance leads only to strife,

but wisdom is with the well-advised.

¹¹ Dishonest wealth will dwindle,

but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³ He who despises instruction will pay the penalty,

but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

turning one from the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding wins favor,

but the way of the faithless is difficult.

¹⁶ Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

but a fool displays^* his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline,

but whoever heeds correction is honored.

¹⁹ Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but turning from evil is detestable to fools.

²⁰ He who walks with the wise will become wise,

but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

²¹ Disaster pursues sinners,

but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.

²³ Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,

but without justice it is swept away.

²⁴ He who spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

²⁵ A righteous man eats to his heart’s content,

but the stomach of the wicked is empty.