Proverbs 9:10-10:21

English Standard Version

¹⁰^(A)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and ^(B)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹For by me ^(C)your days will be multiplied,
    and years will be added to your life.
¹²^(D)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
    if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

¹³^(E)The woman Folly is ^(F)loud;
    she is seductive^[a] and ^(G)knows nothing.
¹⁴She sits at the door of her house;
    she takes a seat on ^(H)the highest places of the town,
¹⁵calling to those who pass by,
    who are ^(I)going straight on their way,
¹⁶^(J)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    And to him who lacks sense she says,
¹⁷^(K)“Stolen water is sweet,
    and ^(L)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸But he does not know ^(M)that the dead^[b] are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

The Proverbs of Solomon

10 ^(N)The proverbs of Solomon.

^(O)A wise son makes a glad father,
    ^(P)but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
²^(Q)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    ^(R)but righteousness delivers from death.
³^(S)The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    ^(T)but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴A slack hand ^(U)causes poverty,
    ^(V)but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵He who ^(W)gathers in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is ^(X)a son who brings shame.
⁶Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but ^(Y)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.^[c]
⁷^(Z)The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but ^(AA)the name of the wicked will rot.
⁸^(AB)The wise of heart will receive commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
⁹^(AC)Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked ^(AD)will be found out.
¹⁰Whoever ^(AE)winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
¹¹^(AF)The mouth of the righteous is ^(AG)a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked ^(AH)conceals violence.
¹²Hatred stirs up strife,
    but ^(AI)love covers all offenses.
¹³On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but ^(AJ)a rod is for the back of him who ^(AK)lacks sense.
¹⁴The wise ^(AL)lay up knowledge,
    but ^(AM)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
¹⁵^(AN)A rich man's wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
¹⁶The wage of the righteous leads ^(AO)to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷Whoever heeds instruction is on ^(AP)the path to life,
    but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
¹⁸The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.
¹⁹^(AQ)When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    ^(AR)but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
²⁰The tongue of the righteous is ^(AS)choice silver;
    the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
²¹The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for ^(AT)lack of sense.