Proverbs 10
Living Bible
10 Happy is the man with a level-headed son; sad the mother of a rebel.
2 Ill-gotten gain brings no lasting happiness; right living does.
3 The Lord will not let a good man starve to death, nor will he let the wicked man’s riches continue forever.
4 Lazy men are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
5 A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity.
6 The good man is covered with blessings from head to foot, but an evil man inwardly curses his luck.[a]
7 We all have happy memories of good men gone to their reward, but the names of wicked men stink after them.
8 The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.
9 A good man has firm footing, but a crook will slip and fall.
10 Winking at sin leads to sorrow; bold reproof leads to peace.
11 There is living truth in what a good man says, but the mouth of the evil man is filled with curses.
12 Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults.
13 Men with common sense are admired[b] as counselors; those without it are beaten as servants.
14 A wise man holds his tongue. Only a fool blurts out everything he knows; that only leads to sorrow and trouble.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his only strength. The poor man’s poverty is his only[c] curse.
16 The good man’s earnings advance the cause of righteousness. The evil man squanders his on sin.
17 Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance.
18 To hide hatred is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool.
19 Don’t talk so much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow!
20 When a good man speaks, he is worth listening to, but the words of fools are a dime a dozen.
21 A godly man gives good advice, but a rebel is destroyed by lack of common sense.
22 The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it![d]
23 A fool’s fun is being bad; a wise man’s fun is being wise!
24 The wicked man’s fears will all come true and so will the good man’s hopes.
25 Disaster strikes like a cyclone and the wicked are whirled away. But the good man has a strong anchor.
26 A lazy fellow is a pain to his employers—like smoke in their eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.
27 Reverence for God adds hours to each day;[e] so how can the wicked expect a long, good life?
28 The hope of good men is eternal happiness; the hopes of evil men are all in vain.
29 God protects the upright but destroys the wicked.
30 The good shall never lose God’s blessings, but the wicked shall lose everything.
31 The good man gives wise advice, but the liar’s counsel is shunned.
32 The upright speak what is helpful; the wicked speak rebellion.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:6 an evil man inwardly curses his luck, literally, “but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
- Proverbs 10:13 admired, implied.
- Proverbs 10:15 only . . . only, implied.
- Proverbs 10:22 All our work adds nothing to it, or “And he adds no sorrow therewith.”
- Proverbs 10:27 adds hours to each day, literally, “prolongs days.”
Proverbs 28
Living Bible
28 The wicked flee when no one is chasing them! But the godly are bold as lions!
2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.
3 When a poor man oppresses those even poorer, he is like an unexpected flood sweeping away their last hope.
4 To complain about the law is to praise wickedness. To obey the law is to fight evil.
5 Evil men don’t understand the importance of justice, but those who follow the Lord are much concerned about it.
6 Better to be poor and honest than rich and a cheater.
7 Young men who are wise obey the law; a son who is a member of a lawless gang is a shame to his father.
8 Income from exploiting the poor will end up in the hands of someone who pities them.
9 God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who flout the law.
10 A curse on those who lead astray the godly. But men who encourage the upright to do good shall be given a worthwhile reward.
11 Rich men are conceited, but their real poverty is evident to the poor.
12 When the godly are successful, everyone is glad. When the wicked succeed, everyone is sad.
13 A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.
14 Blessed is the man who reveres God, but the man who doesn’t care is headed for serious trouble.
15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a lion or bear attacking them.
16 Only a stupid prince will oppress his people, but a king will have a long reign if he hates dishonesty and bribes.
17 A murderer’s conscience will drive him into hell. Don’t stop him!
18 Good men will be rescued from harm, but cheaters will be destroyed.
19 Hard work brings prosperity; playing around brings poverty.
20 The man who wants to do right will get a rich reward. But the man who wants to get rich quick will quickly fail.
21 Giving preferred treatment to rich people is a clear case of selling one’s soul for a piece of bread.
22 Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to poverty.
23 In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery.
24 A man who robs his parents and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.
25 Greed causes fighting; trusting God leads to prosperity.
26 A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe.
27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.
28 When the wicked prosper, good men go away; when the wicked meet disaster, good men return.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
