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Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

¹ A ^(C1)wise son heeds and accepts and is the result of his father's discipline and instruction,
But a ^(C2)scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.

² From the fruit of his mouth a wise man ^(C1)enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is for ^(C2)violence.

³ The one who ^(C1)guards his mouth thinking before he speaks protects his life;
The one who ^(C2)opens his lips wide and chatters without thinking comes to ruin.

⁴ The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing for lethargy overcomes ambition,
But the soul (appetite) of the diligent who works willingly is rich and abundantly supplied. ^(VR1)

⁵ A righteous man ^(C1)hates lies,
But a wicked man ^(C2)is loathsome, and he acts shamefully.

⁶ Righteousness (being in right standing with God) ^(C1)guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness undermines and overthrows the sinner.

⁷ There is one who ^(C1)pretends to be rich, yet has nothing at all;
Another pretends to be ^(C2)poor, yet has great wealth. ^(VR1)

⁸ The ransom for a man's life is his wealth,
But the poor man does not even have to listen to a rebuke or threats from the envious.

⁹ The ^(C1)light of the righteous within him—grows brighter and rejoices,
But the ^(C2)lamp of the wicked is a temporary light and goes out.

¹⁰ Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife,
But skillful and godly wisdom is with those who welcome well-advised counsel.

¹¹ Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by honest labor will increase his riches.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

¹³ Whoever ^(C1)despises the word and counsel of God brings destruction upon himself,
But he who reverently fears and respects the commandment of God will be ^(C2)rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a ^(C1)fountain and source of life,
So that one may avoid the ^(C2)snares of death.

^15 (C1)Good understanding wins favor from others,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard like barren, dry soil.

¹⁶ Every ^(C1)prudent and self-disciplined man acts with knowledge,
But a closed-minded fool who refuses to learn displays his foolishness for all to see.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into hardship,
But ^(C1)a faithful ambassador brings healing.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame will come to him who ^(C1)refuses instruction and discipline,
But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.

¹⁹ Desire realized is sweet to the soul;
But it is detestable to fools to turn away from evil which they have planned.

^20 (C1)He who walks as a companion with wise men will be wise,
But the companions of conceited, dull-witted fools are fools themselves and will experience harm. ^(VR1)

^21 (C1)Adversity pursues sinners,
But the consistently ^(C2)upright will be rewarded with prosperity.

²² A good man ^(C1)leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
And the ^(C2)wealth of the sinner is stored up for the hands of the righteous.

^23 (C1)Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor,
But without protection it is swept away by injustice.

²⁴ He who ^(C1)withholds the rod of discipline hates his son,
But he who loves him ^(C2)disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately with wisdom and love. ^(VR1)

²⁵ The consistently ^(C1)righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the ^(C2)wicked is in need of bread.