Proverbs 13 — Counsel, wealth, desire, and discipline — Hebrew and Greek compared

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:1

A wise son receives a father's discipline,

but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:1

A resourceful son is obedient to a father,

but a disobedient son is in destruction.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:2

From the fruit of a man's mouth he eats good,

but the appetite of the treacherous is for violence.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:2

A good person will eat from fruits of righteousness,

but the lives of lawless people will perish before their time.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:3

One who guards his mouth keeps his life;

one who opens his lips wide—ruin is his.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:3

One who guards his own mouth keeps his own life,

but one rash with his lips will terrify himself.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:4

The appetite of the lazy craves, and has nothing,

but the appetite of the diligent will be made full.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:4

Every idle person is amid desires,

but the hands of the courageous are engaged in care.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:5

The righteous hates a lying word,

but the wicked brings a stench and disgrace.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:5

The righteous hates an unjust word,

but the impious is ashamed and will have no frankness.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:6

Righteousness guards one blameless in the way,

but wickedness overturns the sinful one.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:6

Righteousness guards the innocent,

but sin makes the impious worthless.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:7

There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing,

and one who makes himself poor, yet has great wealth.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:7

There are those who make themselves rich while having nothing,

and those who humble themselves amid much wealth.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:8

A man's wealth is the ransom of his life,

but the poor person hears no rebuke.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:8

A man's own wealth is the ransom of his life,

but a poor person does not face a threat.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:9

The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:9

Light is for the righteous continually,

but the light of the impious is extinguished.

Hebrew–English (H)

H —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Hebrew main text.]

Greek–English (G)

G 13:9a

Deceitful lives wander in sins,

but the righteous have compassion and show mercy.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:10

Through pride comes nothing but strife,

but wisdom is with those who take counsel.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:10

An evil person does evil things with insolence,

but those who understand themselves are wise.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:11

Wealth from emptiness dwindles,

but one who gathers by hand increases it.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:11

Property pursued eagerly with lawlessness becomes less,

but one who gathers for himself with piety will increase;

a righteous person has compassion and lends.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:12

Expectation drawn out makes the heart sick,

but a desire that comes to pass is a tree of life.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:12

Better is one who begins to help the heart

than one who promises and leads it into hope;

for a good desire is a tree of life.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:13

One who despises a word is bound by it,

but one who fears a command will be repaid.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:13

One who despises a matter will be despised by it,

but one who fears a command is sound.

Hebrew–English (H)

H —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Hebrew main text.]

Greek–English (G)

G 13:13a

Nothing good will belong to a deceitful son,

but a wise household servant's actions will prosper,

and his way will be made straight.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:14

The instruction of the wise is a fountain of life,

for turning aside from the snares of death.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:14

The law of a wise person is a fountain of life,

but the senseless will die by a trap.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:15

Good prudence gives favor,

but the way of the treacherous is hard.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:15

Good understanding gives favor,

and knowing the law belongs to a good mind,

but the ways of the contemptuous are in destruction.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:16

Every shrewd person acts with knowledge,

but a fool spreads out folly.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:16

Every resourceful person acts with knowledge,

but the fool has spread out his own wickedness.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:17

A wicked messenger falls into evil,

but a faithful envoy is healing.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:17

A rash king will fall into evils,

but a faithful messenger will rescue him.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:18

Poverty and disgrace belong to one who lets discipline go,

but one who keeps reproof will be honored.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:18

Discipline takes away poverty and dishonor,

and one who keeps rebukes will be glorified.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:19

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the life,

but turning from evil is an abomination to fools.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:19

The desires of the devout sweeten the life,

but the works of the impious are far from knowledge.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise,

but one who companions with fools will fare badly.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:20

One who walks with the wise will be wise,

but one who walks with fools will be known.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:21

Evil pursues sinners,

but good repays the righteous.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:21

Evils will pursue those who sin,

but good things will overtake the righteous.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:22

A good person leaves an inheritance to children's children,

but a sinner's wealth is stored for the righteous.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:22

A good man will inherit children's children,

but the wealth of the impious is stored up for the righteous.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:23

The newly worked ground of the poor has abundant food,

but there is what is swept away through lack of justice.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:23

The righteous will spend many years in wealth,

but the unjust will perish swiftly.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:24

One who withholds his rod hates his son,

but one who loves him diligently seeks discipline for him.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:24

One who spares the staff hates his son,

but one who loves him disciplines carefully.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 13:25

The righteous eats to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked lacks.

Greek–English (G)

G 13:25

The righteous, by eating, fills his life,

but the lives of the impious are in want.