The Rod of Correction

Proverbs 13

This chapter contrasts an obedient, wise son with a disobedient one, and teaches that guarding one's speech guards one's life while wealth gained hastily and dishonestly soon dwindles away. It also instructs that a father who truly loves his son disciplines him carefully, comparing a father who withholds correction to one who hates his child.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonA WISE son is obedient to his father; but a disobedient son is on the path to destruction.

BrentonA wise son is obedient to his father: but a disobedient son will be destroyed.

GreekΥἱὸς πανοῦργος ὑπήκοος πατρὶ, υἱὸς δὲ ἀνήκοος ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ.

KJVA wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

JPSA wise son is instructed of his father; But a scorner heareth not rebuke.

ThomsonA good man eateth of the fruits of righteousness: but the souls of transgressors shall perish untimely.

BrentonA good man shall eat of the fruits of righteousness: but the lives of transgressors shall perish before their time.

GreekἈπὸ καρπῶν δικαιοσύνης φάγεται ἀγαθὸς, ψυχαὶ δὲ παρανόμων ὀλοῦνται ἄωροι.

KJVA man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

JPSA man shall eat good from the fruit of his mouth; But the desire of the faithless is violence.

ThomsonHe who guardeth his mouth preserveth his life; but he who is rash with his mouth, shall bring on himself terror.

BrentonHe that keeps his own mouth keeps his own life: but he that is hasty with his lips shall bring terror upon himself.

GreekὋς φυλάσσει τὸ ἑαυτοῦ στόμα τηρεῖ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν, ὁ δὲ προπετὴς χείλεσι πτοήσει ἑαυτόν.

KJVHe that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

JPSHe that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But for him that openeth wide his lips there shall be ruin.

ThomsonEvery sluggard is employed in wishing: but the hands of the diligent, in procuring.

BrentonEvery slothful man desires, but the hands of the active are diligent.

GreekἘν ἐπιθυμίαις ἐστὶ πᾶς ἀεργὸς, χεῖρες δὲ ἀνδρείων ἐν ἐπιμελείᾳ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonA righteous man hateth a false word; but the wicked is shamed and shall not have confidence.

BrentonA righteous man hates an unjust word: but an ungodly man is ashamed, and will have no confidence.

GreekΛόγον ἄδικον μισεῖ δίκαιος, ἀσεβὴς δὲ αἰσχύνεται, καὶ οὐκ ἕξει παῤῥησίαν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonSome pretend to be rich, having nothing; and some feign themselves poor, in great wealth.

BrentonThere are some who, having nothing, enrich themselves: and there are some who bring themselves down in the midst of much wealth.

GreekΕἰσὶν οἱ πλουτίζοντες ἑαυτοὺς μηδὲν ἔχοντες, καὶ εἰσὶν οἱ ταπεινοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ἐν πολλῷ πλούτῳ.

KJV—

JPSThere is that pretendeth himself rich, yet hath nothing; There is that pretendeth himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

ThomsonThe ransom of a man’s life is his wealth; but a poor man is not subject to threats.

BrentonA man's own wealth is the ransom of his life: but the poor endures not threatening.

GreekΛύτρον ἀνδρὸς ψυχῆς ὁ ἴδιος πλοῦτος, πτωχὸς δὲ οὐχ ὑφίσταται ἀπειλήν.

KJVThe ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

JPSThe ransom of a man’s life are his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.

Thomson—

BrentonThe righteous always have light: but the light of the ungodly is quenched.

GreekΦῶς δικαίοις διαπαντὸς, φῶς δὲ ἀσεβῶν σβέννυται·

KJVThe light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

JPSThe light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

ThomsonThe righteous have light continually; but the light of the wicked is extinguished. Deceitful souls are led astray by sins; but the righteous exercise pity and compassion.

BrentonCrafty souls go astray in sins: but just men pity, and are merciful.

Greekψυχαὶ δόλιαι πλανῶνται ἐν ἁμαρτίαις, δίκαιοι δὲ οἰκτείρουσι καὶ ἐλεοῦσι.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonA wicked man doth mischief with haughtiness; but wise men are their own judges.

BrentonA bad man does evil with insolence: but they that are judges of themselves are wise.

GreekΚακὸς μεθʼ ὕβρεως πράσσει κακὰ, οἱ δʼ ἑαυτῶν ἐπιγνώμονες σοφοί.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonWealth gotten hastily with iniquity is diminished: but he that gathers for himself with godliness shall be increased. The righteous is merciful, and lends.

GreekὝπαρξις ἐπισπουδαζομένη μετὰ ἀνομίας, ἐλάσσων γίνεται, ὁ δὲ συνάγων ἑαυτῷ μετʼ εὐσεβείας πληθυνθήσεται· δίκαιος οἰκτείρει καὶ κιχρᾷ.

KJVWealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

JPSWealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth little by little shall increase. .

ThomsonBetter is he who heartily beginneth to help, than he who promiseth and giveth expectation; for good desire is a tree of life.

BrentonBetter is he that begins to help heartily, than he that promises and leads another to hope: for a good desire is a tree of life.

GreekΚρείσσων ἐναρχόμενος βοηθῶν καρδίᾳ, τοῦ ἐπαγγελλομένου καὶ εἰς ἐλπίδα ἄγοντος· δένδρον γὰρ ζωῆς, ἐπιθυμία ἀγαθή.

KJVHope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

JPSHope deferred maketh the heart sick; But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Thomson—

BrentonHe that slights a matter shall be slighted of it: but he that fears the commandment has health of soul.

GreekὋς καταφρονεῖ πράγματος, καταφρονηθήσεται ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ· ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος ἐντολὴν, οὗτος ὑγιαίνει·

KJV—

JPS—

13a

ThomsonHe who despiseth counsel shall be despised by it; but he who feareth a commandment is sound. To a deceitful son nothing can be good: but the actions of a wise servant are prosperous, and his way will be prospered.

BrentonTo a crafty son there shall be nothing good: but a wise servant shall have prosperous doings, and his way shall be directed aright.

Greekυἱῷ δολίῳ οὐδὲν ἔσται ἀγαθὸν, οἰκέτῃ δὲ σοφῷ εὔοδοι ἔσονται πράξεις, καὶ κατευθυνθήσεται ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThe law of the wise is a fountain of life; but the fool shall die by a snare.

BrentonThe law of the wise is a fountain of life: but the man void of understanding shall die by a snare.

GreekΝόμος σοφοῦ πηγὴ ζωῆς, ὁ δὲ ἄνους ὑπὸ παγίδος θανεῖται.

KJVThe law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

JPSThe teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To depart from the snares of death.

ThomsonA good understanding giveth favour: and to know the law is a proof of good understanding; but the ways of impostors end in destruction.

BrentonSound discretion gives favour, and to know the law is the part of a sound understanding: but the ways of scorners tend to destruction.

GreekΣύνεσις ἀγαθὴ δίδωσι χάριν, τὸ δὲ γνῶναι νόμον διανοίας ἐστὶν ἀγαθῆς, ὁδοὶ δὲ καταφρονούντων ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonEvery prudent man acteth with knowledge; but the fool hath laid open his wickedness.

BrentonEvery prudent man acts with knowledge: but the fool displays his own mischief.

GreekΠᾶς πανοῦργος πράσσει μετὰ γνώσεως, ὁ δὲ ἄφρων ἐξεπέτασεν ἑαυτοῦ κακίαν.

KJVEvery prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

JPSEvery prudent man dealeth with forethought; But a fool unfoldeth folly.

ThomsonA daring king will involve himself in evils; but a wise ambassador will deliver him.

BrentonA rash king shall fall into mischief: but a wise messenger shall deliver him.

GreekΒασιλεὺς θρασὺς ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακὰ, ἄγγελος δὲ σοφὸς ῥύσεται αὐτόν.

KJVA wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

JPS—

ThomsonInstruction removeth poverty and disgrace; and he who regardeth reproofs shall be honoured.

BrentonInstruction removes poverty and disgrace: but he that attends to reproofs shall be honoured.

GreekΠενίαν καὶ ἀτιμίαν ἀφαιρεῖται παιδεία, ὁ δὲ φυλάσσων ἐλέγχους δοξασθήσεται.

KJVPoverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

JPSPoverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

ThomsonThe desires of the pious sweeten life: but the works of the wicked are far from knowledge.

BrentonThe desires of the godly gladden the soul, but the works of the ungodly are far from knowledge.

GreekἘπιθυμίαι εὐσεβῶν ἡδύνουσι ψυχὴν, ἔργα δὲ ἀσεβῶν μακρὰν ἀπὸ γνώσεως.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBy walking with the wise thou wilt be wise; but he who walketh with fools will be known [for one].

BrentonIf thou walkest with wise men thou shalt be wise: but he that walks with fools shall be known.

GreekΣυμπορευόμενος σοφοῖς σοφὸς ἔσῃ, ὁ δὲ συμπορευόμενος ἄφροσι γνωσθήσεται.

KJVHe that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

JPSHe that walketh with wise men shall be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.

ThomsonEvils shall pursue sinners, but good will overtake the righteous.

BrentonEvil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.

GreekἉμαρτάνοντας καταδιώξεται κακὰ, τοὺς δὲ δικαίους καταλήψεται ἀγαθά.

KJVEvil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

JPSEvil pursueth sinners; But to the righteous good shall be repaid.

ThomsonA good man shall leave an inheritance to his children; but the wealth of the wicked is treasured up for the righteous.

BrentonA good man shall inherit children's children; and the wealth of ungodly men is laid up for the just.

GreekἈγαθὸς ἀνὴρ κληρονομήσει υἱοὺς υἱῶν, θησαυρίζεται δὲ δικαίοις πλοῦτος ἀσεβῶν.

KJVA good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

JPSA good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.

ThomsonThe righteous shall spend many years in wealth; but the unrighteous shall perish in a short time.

BrentonThe righteous shall spend many years in wealth: but the unrighteous shall perish suddenly.

GreekΔίκαιοι ποιήσουσιν ἐν πλούτῳ ἔτη πολλὰ, ἄδικοι δὲ ἀπολοῦνται συντόμως.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonHe that spares the rod hates his son: but he that loves, carefully chastens him.

GreekὋς φείδεται τῆς βακτηρίας, μισεῖ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ὁ δὲ ἀγαπῶν, ἐπιμελῶς παιδεύει.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonA righteous man eateth and satisfieth his soul; but the souls of the wicked are insatiate.

BrentonA just man eats and satisfies his soul: but the souls of the ungodly are in want.

GreekΔίκαιος ἔσθων ἐμπιπλᾷ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, ψυχαὶ δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἐνδεεῖς.

KJV—

JPS—