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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(D)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(E)

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,(F)
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.(G)

Lazy hands make for poverty,(H)
    but diligent hands bring wealth.(I)

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.(J)

Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a](K)

The name of the righteous(L) is used in blessings,[b]
    but the name of the wicked(M) will rot.(N)

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(O)

Whoever walks in integrity(P) walks securely,(Q)
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.(R)

10 Whoever winks maliciously(S) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(T)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(U)

12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(V)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(W)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(X)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(Y)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(Z)

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,(AA)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.(AB)

16 The wages of the righteous is life,(AC)
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.(AD)

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(AE)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(AF)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.(AG)

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.(AH)

22 The blessing of the Lord(AI) brings wealth,(AJ)
    without painful toil for it.(AK)

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(AL)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 What the wicked dread(AM) will overtake them;(AN)
    what the righteous desire will be granted.(AO)

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
    but the righteous stand firm(AP) forever.(AQ)

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke(AR) to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.(AS)

27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(AT)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(AU)

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.(AV)

29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.(AW)

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.(AX)

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(AY)
    but a perverse tongue(AZ) will be silenced.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,(BA)
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.(BB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
  2. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.

The Wise Words of Solomon

10 These are the wise words of Solomon:
Wise children make their father happy,
    but foolish children make their mother sad.

Riches gotten by doing wrong have no value,
    but right living will save you from death.

The Lord does not let good people go hungry,
    but he keeps evil people from getting what they want.

A lazy person will end up poor,
    but a hard worker will become rich.

Those who gather crops on time are wise,
    but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace.

Good people will have rich blessings,
    but the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence.

Good people will be remembered as a blessing,
    but evil people will soon be forgotten.

The wise do what they are told,
    but a talkative fool will be ruined.

The honest person will live in safety,
    but the dishonest will be caught.

10 A wink may get you into trouble,
    and foolish talk will lead to your ruin.

11 The words of a good person give life, like a fountain of water,
    but the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.

12 Hatred stirs up trouble,
    but love forgives all wrongs.

13 Wise people speak with understanding,
    but people without wisdom should be punished.

14 The wise don’t tell everything they know,
    but the foolish talk too much and are ruined.

15 Having lots of money protects the rich,
    but having no money destroys the poor.

16 Good people are rewarded with life,
    but evil people are paid with punishment.

17 Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life.

18 Whoever hides hate is a liar.
    Whoever tells lies is a fool.

19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin;
    if you are wise, you will keep quiet.

20 The words of a good person are like pure silver,
    but an evil person’s thoughts are worth very little.
21 Good people’s words will help many others,
    but fools will die because they don’t have wisdom.

22 The Lord’s blessing brings wealth,
    and no sorrow comes with it.

23 A foolish person enjoys doing wrong,
    but a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.

24 Evil people will get what they fear most,
    but good people will get what they want most.

25 A storm will blow the evil person away,
    but a good person will always be safe.

26 A lazy person affects the one he works for
    like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27 Whoever respects the Lord will have a long life,
    but the life of an evil person will be cut short.

28 A good person can look forward to happiness,
    but an evil person can expect nothing.

29 The Lord will protect good people
    but will ruin those who do evil.

30 Good people will always be safe,
    but evil people will not remain in the land.

31 A good person says wise things,
    but a liar’s tongue will be stopped.

32 Good people know the right thing to say,
    but evil people only tell lies.

The Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child[a] brings joy to a father;
    a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

Tainted wealth has no lasting value,
    but right living can save your life.

The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,
    but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

Lazy people are soon poor;
    hard workers get rich.

A wise youth harvests in the summer,
    but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

The godly are showered with blessings;
    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

We have happy memories of the godly,
    but the name of a wicked person rots away.

The wise are glad to be instructed,
    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

People with integrity walk safely,
    but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

10 People who wink at wrong cause trouble,
    but a bold reproof promotes peace.[b]

11 The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;
    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

12 Hatred stirs up quarrels,
    but love makes up for all offenses.

13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,
    but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

14 Wise people treasure knowledge,
    but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
    the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,
    but evil people squander their money on sin.

17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,
    but those who ignore correction will go astray.

18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar;
    slandering others makes you a fool.

19 Too much talk leads to sin.
    Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver;
    the heart of a fool is worthless.

21 The words of the godly encourage many,
    but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool,
    but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;
    the hopes of the godly will be granted.

25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
    but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26 Lazy people irritate their employers,
    like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness,
    but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,
    but it destroys the wicked.

30 The godly will never be disturbed,
    but the wicked will be removed from the land.

31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,
    but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words,
    but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

Footnotes

  1. 10:1 Hebrew son; also in 10:1b.
  2. 10:10 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

Solomon's Wise Sayings

10 Here are some proverbs
    of Solomon:
Children with good sense
    make their parents happy,
but foolish children
    make them sad.
What you gain by doing evil
    won't help you at all.
Obeying God is the only way
    to be saved from death.

If you obey the Lord,
    you won't go hungry;
if you are wicked,
God won't let you have
    what you want.
Laziness leads to poverty;
    hard work makes you rich.
At harvest season
it's smart to work hard,
    but stupid to sleep.

Everyone praises good people,
but evil hides behind
    the words of the wicked.
Good people are remembered
    long after they are gone,
but the wicked
    are soon forgotten.

If you have good sense,
    you will listen and obey;
if all you do is talk foolishly,
    you will destroy yourself.
You will be safe,
    if you always do right,
but you will get caught,
    if you are dishonest.
10 Deceit causes trouble,
and foolish talk
    will bring you to ruin.[a]
11 The words of good people
    are a source of life,
but evil hides behind
    the words of the wicked.

12 (A) Hatred stirs up trouble;
love overlooks the wrongs
    that others do.
13 If you have good sense,
    it will show when you speak.
But if you are stupid,
you will be beaten
    with a stick.
14 If you have good sense,
    you will learn all you can,
but foolish talk
    will soon destroy you.

15 Great wealth can be a fortress,
but poverty
    is no protection at all.
16 If you live right,
    the reward is a good life;
if you are evil,
    all you have is sin.

17 Accept correction,
    and you will find life;
reject correction,
    and you will miss the road.
18 You can hide your hatred
    by telling lies,
but you are a fool
    to spread lies.
19 You will say the wrong thing
    if you talk too much—
so be sensible and watch
    what you say.
20 The words of a good person
    are like pure silver,
but the thoughts
of an evil person
    are almost worthless.
21 Many are helped
    by useful instruction,
but fools are killed
    by their own stupidity.

22 When the Lord blesses you
with riches,
    you have nothing to regret.[b]
23 Fools enjoy doing wrong,
but anyone with good sense
    enjoys acting wisely.
24 What evil people dread most
    will happen to them,
but good people will get
    what they want most.
25 Those crooks will disappear
    when a storm strikes,
but God will keep safe
    all who obey him.
26 Having a lazy person on the job
is like a mouth full of vinegar
    or smoke in your eyes.

27 If you respect the Lord,
    you will live longer;
if you keep doing wrong,
    your life will be cut short.
28 If you obey the Lord,
    you will be happy,
but there is no future
    for the wicked.
29 The Lord protects everyone
    who lives right,
but he destroys anyone
    who does wrong.
30 Good people will stand firm,
but the wicked will disappear
    from the land.
31 Honest people speak sensibly,
but deceitful liars
    will be silenced.
32 If you obey the Lord,
you will always know
    the right thing to say.
But no one will trust you
    if you tell lies.

Footnotes

  1. 10.10 and foolish … ruin: One ancient translation “but you can help people by correcting them.”
  2. 10.22 When … regret: Or “No matter how hard you work, your riches really come from the Lord.”

The Wise Sayings of Solomon

An Honest Life Is Immortal

10 Wise son, glad father;
    stupid son, sad mother.

Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere;
    an honest life is immortal.

God won’t starve an honest soul,
    but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.

Sloth makes you poor;
    diligence brings wealth.

Make hay while the sun shines—that’s smart;
    go fishing during harvest—that’s stupid.

Blessings accrue on a good and honest life,
    but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

A good and honest life is a blessed memorial;
    a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.

A wise heart takes orders;
    an empty head will come unglued.

Honesty lives confident and carefree,
    but Shifty is sure to be exposed.

10 An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead,
    but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.

11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,
    but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

12 Hatred starts fights,
    but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

13 You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight,
    but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.

14 The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure;
    know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.

The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life

15 The wealth of the rich is their security;
    the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.

16 The wage of a good person is exuberant life;
    an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.

17 The road to life is a disciplined life;
    ignore correction and you’re lost for good.

18 Liars secretly hoard hatred;
    fools openly spread slander.

19 The more talk, the less truth;
    the wise measure their words.

20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for;
    the blabber of the wicked is worthless.

21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many,
    but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.

Fear-of-God Expands Your Life

22 God’s blessing makes life rich;
    nothing we do can improve on God.

23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun,
    but a mindful person relishes wisdom.

24 The nightmares of the wicked come true;
    what the good people desire, they get.

25 When the storm is over, there’s nothing left of the wicked;
    good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.

26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble;
    it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.

27 The Fear-of-God expands your life;
    a wicked life is a puny life.

28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration;
    the ambitions of bad people crash.

29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life,
    but he calls into question a shabby performance.

30 Good people last—they can’t be moved;
    the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.

31 A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom;
    a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.

32 The speech of a good person clears the air;
    the words of the wicked pollute it.