Proverbs 10
World English Bible
10 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father;
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry,
but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4 He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,
but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commandments,
but a chattering fool will fall.
9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow,
but a chattering fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life.
The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction,
but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips.
He who utters a slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience,
but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22 Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.
23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
24 What the wicked fear will overtake them,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more;
but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 The fear of Yahweh prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hope of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright,
but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Proverbs 10
Amplified Bible
Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish [stubborn] son [who refuses to learn] is a grief to his mother.
2
Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.
3
The Lord will not allow the [a]righteous to hunger [God will meet all his needs],
But He will reject and cast away the craving of the wicked.(A)
4
Poor is he who works with a negligent and idle hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes him rich.
5
He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully.
6
Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God],
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7
The [b]memory of the righteous [person] is a [source of] blessing,
But the name of the wicked will [be forgotten and] rot [like a corpse].(B)
8
The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction),
But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.
9
He who walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely,
But he who takes a crooked way will be discovered and punished.
10
He who [maliciously] winks the eye [of evil intent] causes trouble;
And the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.
11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life and his words of wisdom are a source of blessing,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence and evil.
12
Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].
13
On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found,
But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.
14
Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart],
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15
The rich man’s wealth is his fortress;
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.(C)
16
The wages of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God] is [a worthwhile, meaningful] life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.(D)
17
He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing],
But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].
18
He who hides hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.(E)
19
When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable,
But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.
20
The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21
The lips of the righteous feed and guide many,
But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding.
22
The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches,
And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God].
23
Engaging in evil is like sport to the fool [who refuses wisdom and chases sin],
But to a man of understanding [skillful and godly] wisdom brings joy.
24
What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.
25
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.(F)
26
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.
27
The [reverent] fear of the Lord [worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect] prolongs one’s life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28
The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.
29
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,
But it is ruin to those who do evil.
30
The [consistently] righteous will never be shaken,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.(G)
31
The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
32
The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted).
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:3 Lit soul of the righteous.
- Proverbs 10:7 Lit mention. In Jewish tradition, “memory” is not just a recollection but implies speaking of the one remembered.
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