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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.

12 To learn, you must love discipline;
    it is stupid to hate correction.

The Lord approves of those who are good,
    but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

Wickedness never brings stability,
    but the godly have deep roots.

A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

The plans of the godly are just;
    the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
    but the words of the godly save lives.

The wicked die and disappear,
    but the family of the godly stands firm.

A sensible person wins admiration,
    but a warped mind is despised.

Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
    than to be self-important but have no food.

10 The godly care for their animals,
    but the wicked are always cruel.

11 A hard worker has plenty of food,
    but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

12 Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
    but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.

13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,
    but the godly escape such trouble.

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10 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[b] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Salvation Is for Everyone

For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.[c] But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;
    it is on your lips and in your heart.”[d]

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[e] 12 Jew and Gentile[f] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[g]

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[h]

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[i] 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth,
    and the words to all the world.”[j]

19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,

“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
    I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”[k]

20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,

“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
    I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”[l]

21 But regarding Israel, God said,

“All day long I opened my arms to them,
    but they were disobedient and rebellious.”[m]

Footnotes

  1. 10:1 Greek Brothers.
  2. 10:4 Or For Christ is the end of the law.
  3. 10:5 See Lev 18:5.
  4. 10:6-8 Deut 30:12-14.
  5. 10:11 Isa 28:16 (Greek version).
  6. 10:12 Greek and Greek.
  7. 10:13 Joel 2:32.
  8. 10:15 Isa 52:7.
  9. 10:16 Isa 53:1.
  10. 10:18 Ps 19:4.
  11. 10:19 Deut 32:21.
  12. 10:20 Isa 65:1 (Greek version).
  13. 10:21 Isa 65:2 (Greek version).

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