Proverbs Chapter 13
Showing all 25 verses for Proverbs Chapter 13.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. "
"A wise child listens to their parent's teaching, but a mocker won't listen to correction."
Let the people who love you speak into your life, even when it stings to hear. Refusing to listen only closes doors that could have helped you grow.
"A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. "
"A person enjoys good things because of what they say, but the treacherous crave violence."
What fills your mouth reveals what fills your heart. Let your words come from a place that genuinely wants good for other people, not harm.
"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. "
"Whoever controls their mouth guards their own life, but whoever talks recklessly brings ruin on themselves."
Think before you speak. A little self-control with your words can save you from a lot of unnecessary pain, both for yourself and for others.
"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. "
"The lazy person wants things but never gets them, while the hard worker gets everything they need."
Wishing for a better life won't get you there. Put in the work, and you'll find your wants actually starting to become real.
"A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. "
"A righteous person hates lies, but a wicked person is disgusting and ends up disgraced."
Don't just avoid lying because you might get caught. Come to actually hate dishonesty, because that's what it means to have a genuinely honest heart.
"Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. "
"Righteousness protects a person who lives with integrity, but wickedness brings down the sinner."
Integrity isn't just a moral checkbox - it's a genuine safeguard for your whole life. Live rightly, and you're building your own protection as you go.
"There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. "
"Some people pretend to be rich but have nothing; others pretend to be poor but are actually very wealthy."
Don't perform a wealth or status you don't actually have. Be genuinely content with what's real, even if it looks modest from the outside.
"The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. "
"A rich person can use their wealth to buy their way out of trouble, but a poor person doesn't even get threatened in the same way."
Money can solve some problems, but don't assume it solves all of them, or that having none is only ever a curse. Contentment matters more than which side of that line you happen to be on.
"The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. "
"The righteous person's light shines brightly, but the wicked person's lamp gets snuffed out."
Let your life be a light that keeps burning. A life built on integrity has a glow that a shortcut, dishonest life can never sustain over time.
"Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. "
"Pride is the source of arguments, but wisdom is found among those who take advice."
Next time you're in an argument, ask yourself honestly whether pride is really what's driving it. Humility defuses far more conflict than being right ever will.
"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. "
"Money gained through get-rich-quick schemes shrinks away, but money earned through hard work grows."
There are no real shortcuts to a good life. Put in honest work and trust that what you build slowly will actually last.
"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. "
"When hope is delayed, it makes the heart sick, but when a longing is finally fulfilled, it's like a tree bursting into life."
If you're waiting on something and it's wearing you down, that ache is real, and I see it. Don't lose heart - fulfilment, when it comes, brings life flooding back into you.
"Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. "
"Whoever ignores good instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects it will be rewarded."
Take wisdom seriously, even when it's inconvenient right now. Guidance that feels restrictive in the moment is often exactly what protects your future.
"The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. "
"The teaching of a wise person is like a fresh spring of water, helping you avoid deadly traps."
Seek out wise teaching and let it refresh you. It's not there to restrict your life, but to keep you clear of the traps that would actually destroy it.
"Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. "
"Good judgement wins people's favour, but the path of treacherous people is rough going."
Cultivate good judgement in how you treat people. It doesn't just protect you - it makes your relationships and your whole path through life easier to walk.
"Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. "
"A sensible person acts thoughtfully, but a fool shows off their foolishness for everyone to see."
Think before you act. A little consideration goes a long way, and impulsiveness usually just puts your worst instincts on public display.
"A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. "
"An unreliable messenger causes trouble, but a trustworthy representative brings healing."
When someone trusts you to carry their message or handle their business, be faithful with it. Reliability is a quiet but genuinely powerful form of love.
"Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. "
"Whoever ignores discipline ends up poor and disgraced, but whoever accepts correction is honoured."
Don't let pride cost you the correction that could actually lift you up. Humility in receiving feedback is the doorway to real honour, not the opposite of it.
"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. "
"Getting what you long for feels sweet, but fools can't stand the idea of turning away from evil."
If change feels hard, ask yourself honestly whether you're attached to something that's actually hurting you. Letting go of what's wrong is often the very thing that opens the door to real satisfaction.
"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. "
"Spend time with wise people and you'll become wise, but hang around fools and you'll suffer for it."
Pay attention to who you're letting shape you. Walk closely with people who bring out your best, not people who quietly pull you towards your worst.
"Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. "
"Trouble chases after sinners, but good things come to the righteous."
You can't outrun the consequences of a harmful life forever. Live rightly instead, and let good be the thing that chases after you.
"A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. "
"A good person leaves an inheritance for their grandchildren, but the wealth a sinner builds ends up in the hands of the righteous."
Think beyond your own lifetime. What you build with integrity ends up blessing people you might never even meet.
"Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. "
"A poor person's field can produce plenty of food, but injustice can strip it all away."
Notice the people who work hard and are still stripped of what's rightfully theirs. Stand for fairness, because injustice can undo what honest effort has genuinely built.
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. "
"Whoever refuses to discipline their child doesn't really love them; a loving parent disciplines their child promptly and consistently."
If you love someone, especially a child in your care, love them enough to guide and correct them, not just indulge them. Real love invests in someone's growth, even when it's uncomfortable in the moment - though it should always come from love, never from anger or cruelty.
"The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. "
"The righteous eat until they're truly satisfied, but the wicked are always left wanting."
Real contentment isn't about having more - it's about the state of your own heart. Live rightly and you'll find a satisfaction that no amount of grasping ever gives to the person who's never at peace.