Proverbs 10
English Standard Version
The Proverbs of Solomon
10 (A)The proverbs of Solomon.
(B)A wise son makes a glad father,
(C)but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
2 (D)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
(E)but righteousness delivers from death.
3 (F)The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
(G)but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 A slack hand (H)causes poverty,
(I)but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who (J)gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is (K)a son who brings shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but (L)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.[a]
7 (M)The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but (N)the name of the wicked will rot.
8 (O)The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
9 (P)Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked (Q)will be found out.
10 Whoever (R)winks the eye causes trouble,
and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 (S)The mouth of the righteous is (T)a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked (U)conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but (V)love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but (W)a rod is for the back of him who (X)lacks sense.
14 The wise (Y)lay up knowledge,
but (Z)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15 (AA)A rich man's wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16 The wage of the righteous leads (AB)to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on (AC)the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19 (AD)When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
(AE)but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is (AF)choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for (AG)lack of sense.
22 (AH)The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.[b]
23 Doing wrong is (AI)like a joke to a fool,
but (AJ)wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 (AK)What the wicked dreads (AL)will come upon him,
but (AM)the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When (AN)the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but (AO)the righteous is established forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 (AP)The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
(AQ)but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 (AR)The hope of the righteous brings joy,
(AS)but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 (AT)The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
30 (AU)The righteous will never be removed,
but (AV)the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 (AW)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous (AX)know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, (AY)what is perverse.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:6 Or but violence covers the mouth of the wicked; also verse 11
- Proverbs 10:22 Or and toil adds nothing to it
Proverbs 10
Expanded Bible
The Wise Words of Solomon
10 These are the ·wise words [proverbs] of Solomon:
Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy,
but foolish ·children [sons] make their mother sad.
2 ·Riches gotten by doing wrong [L The treasures of the wicked] have no value,
but ·right living [righteousness] will save you from death.
3 The Lord does not let ·good [righteous] people ·go hungry [starve],
but he keeps evil people from getting what they want.
4 A ·lazy person will end up [L slack palm makes a person] poor,
but a ·hard worker will become [L determined hand makes a person] rich.
5 Those who gather crops ·on time [L in the summer] are wise,
but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace.
6 ·Good [Righteous] people will have rich blessings,
but the mouth of the wicked ·will be overwhelmed by [or conceals] violence.
7 ·Good [Righteous] people will be remembered as a blessing,
but the name of evil people will soon ·be forgotten [L rot].
8 The wise of heart ·do what they are told [L grasps commands],
but ·a talkative fool [L the lips of a fool] will be ruined.
9 ·The honest person will live [L Those who walk in innocence walk] in safety,
but ·the dishonest [L those who twist their path] will be ·caught [found out].
10 A wink may ·get you into [or cause] trouble,
and foolish talk will lead to your ruin.
11 The ·words [L mouth] of a ·good [righteous] person ·give life, like a fountain of water [L is a fountain of life],
but the ·words [L mouth] of the wicked ·contain nothing but [conceals] violence.
12 Hatred stirs up ·trouble [conflict; fights],
but love ·forgives [covers] all wrongs.
13 ·Wise people speak with understanding [L Wisdom is found on understanding lips],
but ·people without wisdom should be punished [L a rod is for the backs of those who lack sense/heart].
14 The wise ·don’t tell [store up; treasure] everything they know,
but the ·foolish talk too much and are ruined [L mouth of a fool means imminent ruin].
15 ·Having lots of money protects the rich [L The wealth of the rich is their strong city],
but having no money ·destroys [is the ruin of] the poor.
16 ·Good [Righteous] people are rewarded with life,
but evil people are paid with punishment.
17 Whoever ·accepts correction [guards instruction/discipline] is on the way to life,
but whoever ·ignores [abandons] correction ·will lead others away from life [L wanders aimlessly].
18 Whoever ·hides [conceals] hate is a liar.
Whoever ·tells lies [spreads slander] is a fool.
19 ·If you talk a lot [L In an abundance of words], ·you are sure to sin [L wickedness does not cease];
if you are wise, you will ·keep quiet [L restrain your lips].
20 The ·words [L tongue] of a ·good [righteous] person ·are like pure [is choice] silver,
but an evil person’s ·thoughts are [L heart is] worth very little.
21 ·Good [Righteous] people’s ·words [L lips] ·will help [L nourish] many others,
but fools will die because they ·don’t have wisdom [lack sense/heart].
22 The Lord’s blessing brings wealth,
and no ·sorrow [trouble] comes with it.
23 A foolish person ·enjoys [makes a sport of] doing wrong,
but a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.
24 Evil people will get what they fear most,
but ·good [righteous] people will get what they want most.
25 A ·storm [whirlwind] will blow the evil person away,
but a ·good [righteous] person will always ·be safe [L have a firm foundation].
26 A lazy person affects the one ·he works for [L who sends him]
like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes [C irritating].
27 Whoever ·respects [fears] the Lord will ·have a long life [L increase his days],
but the ·life [L years] of an evil person will be cut short.
28 A ·good [righteous] person can look forward to happiness,
but ·an evil person can expect nothing [L the hope of an evil person will perish].
29 The path of the Lord ·will protect good people [L is a refuge for the innocent]
but ruin for those who do evil.
30 ·Good [Righteous] people will ·always be safe [L never be shaken],
but evil people will not ·remain [dwell] in the land.
31 ·A good person says wise things [L The mouth of a righteous person flows with wisdom],
but a ·liar’s [perverse person’s] tongue will be ·stopped [L cut off].
32 ·Good people [L The lips of the wise] know the right thing to say,
but [L the mouth of] evil people only tell ·lies [perversities].
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.