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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.

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but delights in an accurate weight.
When pride comes, so does shame,
    but wisdom brings humility.
Integrity guides the virtuous,
    but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
Riches don’t help in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness rescues from death.
The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
    but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
    but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
When the wicked die, their hope perishes.
    Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
The righteous are saved from distress,
    and the wicked take their place.
The godless destroy their neighbors by their words,
    but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
10 When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous;
    it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
12 Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense;
    a sensible person keeps quiet.
13 A slanderer walks around revealing secrets,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
    but there is victory with many counselors.
15 Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble,
    but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.
16 A gracious woman gains honor;
    violent men gain only wealth.
17 Kind persons benefit themselves,
    but cruel people harm themselves.
18 The wicked earn false wages,
    but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
19 The righteous are headed toward life,
    but those who pursue evil, toward death.
20 The Lord detests a crooked heart,
    but he favors those whose path is innocent.
21 The evil person will surely not go unpunished,
    but the children of the righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose
    is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desires of the righteous end up well,
    but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.
24 Those who give generously receive more,
    but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
25 Generous persons will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard grain,
    but they bless those[a] who sell it.
27 Those who look for good find favor,
    but those who seek evil—it will come to them.
28 Those who trust in their wealth will wither,
    but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
29 Those who trouble their family will inherit the wind.
    The fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the wise gather lives.[b]
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the wicked and sinners?

12 Those who love discipline love knowledge,
    and those who hate correction are stupid.
The Lord favors good people,
    but he condemns schemers.
No one is established by wicked acts,
    but the roots of the righteous can’t be disturbed.
A strong woman is a crown to her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like rot in his bones.
The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.
The words of the wicked are a deathtrap,
    but the speech of those who do right rescues them.
The wicked are destroyed and are no more,
    but the family of the righteous will endure.
A person is praised for his insight,
    but a warped mind leads to contempt.
Better to be held in low regard and have a servant
    than to be conceited and lack food.
10 The righteous care about their livestock’s needs,
    but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have plenty to eat,
    but those who engage in empty pursuits have no sense.
12 Desiring evil is a trap for the wicked,
    but the root of the righteous endures.[c]
13 The wicked are trapped by the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.
14 From the fruit of their speech, people are well satisfied;
    their work results in reward.
15 Fools see their own way as right,
    but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools reveal their anger right away,
    but the shrewd hide their contempt.
17 Those who state the truth speak justly,
    but a false witness deceives.
18 Some chatter on like a stabbing sword,
    but a wise tongue heals.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil,
    but there is joy for those who advise peace.
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked receive their fill of trouble.
22 The Lord detests false lips;
    he favors those who do what is true.
23 The shrewd conceal their knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims their stupidity.
24 A hard worker is in charge,
    while a lazy one will be sentenced to hard labor.
25 Anxiety leads to depression,
    but a good word encourages.
26 The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors,[d]
    but the path of the wicked makes them wander.
27 The lazy don’t roast[e] their prey,
    but hard workers receive precious riches.
28 The way of the righteous leads to life,
    but the detestable[f] path leads to death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those
  2. Proverbs 11:30 Or LXX, Syr violence takes lives away
  3. Proverbs 12:12 Or gives
  4. Proverbs 12:26 Heb uncertain
  5. Proverbs 12:27 Heb uncertain
  6. Proverbs 12:28 LXX; MT the path of the trail

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)

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(BC)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(BD)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(BE)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(BF)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(BG)

Wealth(BH) is worthless in the day of wrath,(BI)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(BJ)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(BK)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(BL)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(BM)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(BN)
    all the promise of[c] their power comes to nothing.(BO)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(BP)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(BQ)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(BR)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(BS)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(BT)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(BU)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(BV)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(BW)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(BX)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(BY)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(BZ)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(CA)

15 Whoever puts up security(CB) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(CC)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(CD)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(CE)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(CF)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(CG)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(CH)
    but he delights(CI) in those whose ways are blameless.(CJ)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(CK)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(CL) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(CM)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(CN)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(CO)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(CP)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(CQ)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(CR)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(CS) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(CT)

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(CU)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(CV)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(CW)

A wife of noble character(CX) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(CY)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(CZ)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(DA)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(DB)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(DC) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(DD)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(DE)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(DF)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(DG)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(DH)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(DI)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(DJ)
    but the wise listen to advice.(DK)

16 Fools(DL) show their annoyance at once,(DM)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(DN)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(DO)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(DP)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(DQ)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(DR)

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(DS)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(DT)
    but he delights(DU) in people who are trustworthy.(DV)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(DW)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(DX)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(DY)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(DZ)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(EA)

27 The lazy do not roast[d] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(EB)
    along that path is immortality.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
  2. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.
  3. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
  4. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.