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10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father;
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry,
    but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,
    but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
    but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise in heart accept commandments,
    but a chattering fool will fall.
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.

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.