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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.

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise child makes a father glad,
    but a foolish child brings sorrow to his mother.
The treasure of the wicked won’t profit them,
    but righteousness rescues people from death.
The Lord doesn’t let the righteous starve,
    but he rejects the desires of the wicked.
Laziness brings poverty;
    hard work makes one rich.
A wise son harvests in the summer;
    a disgraceful son sleeps right through the harvest.
Blessings cover the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked rots.
The skilled mind accepts commands,
    but a foolish talker is ruined.
Those who walk in innocence walk with confidence,
    but those on crooked paths will be found out.
10 Those who wink an eye bring trouble;
    those who speak foolishly are ruined.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hate stirs up conflict,
    but love covers all offenses.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of those who have understanding,
    but there is a rod for the back of those with no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings on ruin.
15 The riches of the wealthy are their strong city;
    the ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The wages of the righteous lead to life;
    the earnings of the wicked lead to sin.
17 Those who heed instruction are on the way to life,
    but those who ignore correction lose their way.
18 Lying lips conceal hate,
    and those who spread slander are fools.
19 With lots of words comes wrongdoing,
    but the wise restrain their lips.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked lacks value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many people,
    but fools who lack sense will die.
22 The Lord’s blessing makes a person rich,
    and no trouble is added to it.
23 Fools enjoy vile deeds,
    but those with understanding take pleasure in wisdom.
24 What the wicked dread will come on them,
    but what the righteous desire will be given to them.
25 After a whirlwind passes by, the wicked are no more,
    but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so are lazy people to those who authorize them.
27 The fear of the Lord increases one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
28 The expectations of the righteous result in joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked will perish.
29 The path of the Lord is a refuge for the innocent
    and ruin for those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be shaken,
    but the wicked won’t dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
    but the twisted tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the wise know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked knows only what is perverse.