Poetry

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1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

A wise son his father's instruction heeds,
But a mocker does not listen to the rebuke he needs.

2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,
but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.

From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,
But the unfaithful have a craving that from violence springs.

3 He who guards his lips guards his life,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

He who guards his lips guards his life,
But he who speaks rashly ruins his life with strife.

4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The lazy man get nothing by empty craving,
But the diligent get their desires satisfied by prudent saving.

5 The righteous hate what is false,
but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

The righteous will the false hate, and not embrace,
But the wicked will do so, and bring shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Righteousness guards the man of integrity and makes him a winner,
But the wickedness of the wicked overthrows the sinner.

7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing real;
Another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth no one can steal.

8 A man's riches may ransom his life,
but a poor man hears no threat.

A rich man's riches may lead to a threat on his life,
But the poor man has no such threat to bring strife.

9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out nightly.

10 Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

That which breeds quarrels is clearly man's pride,
But wisdom is found in those who from advice will not turn aside.

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,
but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Dishonest money has a way of dwindling away,
But he who saves little by little has it growing to stay.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

It makes the heart sick when hope is deferred,
But a longing fulfilled is a tree of life greatly preferred.

13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command is rewarded.

He who scorns instruction will pay,
But if one respects a command, reward will come his way.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life that reduces life's cares;
Turning a man from death's terrible snares

15 Good understanding wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Good understanding wins favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is like hard labor.

16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge,
but a fool exposes his folly.

Every prudent man out of knowledge acts,
But a fool exposes his folly for he acts without facts.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But a trustworthy envoy brings healing on the double.

18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,
but whoever heeds correction is honored.

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,
But whoever heeds correction is honored with a respected name.

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning from evil.

A longing fulfilled is to the soul so sweet,
But a fool detests turning from evil, and so evil he will repeat.

20 He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

He who walks with the wise grows wise,
But he who walks with fools suffers harm in everyone's eyes.

21 Misfortune pursues the sinner,
but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

Misfortune pursues the sinner,
But the reward of the righteous is to be a prosperity winner.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children,
but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

A good man lays up treasure for his grandchildren to inherit,
But a sinner stores up his wealth to go to those who are righteous and have merit.

23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food,
but injustice sweeps it away.

A poor man's field may produce abundant food for many a day,
But the injustice of the system will sweep it all away.

24 He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

He who hates his son, is the one who spares the rod,
But he who loves his son, is careful to teach him the fear of God.

25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

The righteous eat to their hearts' content,
For they always have savings when their check is spent,
But the stomach of the wicked often hungry goes,
For they waste so much money on alcohol and hoes.

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