Beginning
The Proverbs of Solomon
10 These are the wise words of Solomon:
A wise son makes his father happy.
But a foolish son makes his mother sad.
2 Riches gotten by doing wrong have no value.
But right living will save you from death.
3 The Lord does not let people who live right go hungry.
But he does not let evil people get what they hunger for.
4 A lazy person will end up poor.
But a hard worker will become rich.
5 A son who gathers crops when they are ready is wise.
But the son who sleeps through the harvest is a disgrace.
6 People who do what is right will have rich blessings.
But the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence.
7 Good people will be remembered as a blessing.
But evil people will soon be forgotten.
8 A wise person does what he is told.
But a talkative fool will be ruined.
9 The honest person will live safely.
But the one who is dishonest will be caught.
10 A wink may get you into trouble.
And foolish talk will lead to your ruin.
11 Like a fountain of water, the words of a good person give life.
But the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.
12 Hatred stirs up trouble.
But love forgives all wrongs.
13 You can expect wise people to speak with understanding.
But people without wisdom can expect to be punished.
14 Wise people don’t tell everything they know.
But a foolish person talks too much and is ruined.
15 Having lots of money protects the rich.
But having no money destroys the poor.
16 Good people are rewarded with life.
But evil people are paid back with punishment.
17 The person who accepts correction is on the way to life.
But the person who ignores correction will be ruined.
18 Whoever hides his hate is a liar.
Whoever tells lies is a fool.
19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin.
If you are wise, you will keep quiet.
20 The words of a good person are like pure silver.
But an evil person’s thoughts are worth little.
21 A good person’s words will help many others.
But a foolish person dies because he doesn’t have wisdom.
22 The Lord’s blessing brings wealth.
And with it comes no sorrow.
23 A foolish person enjoys doing wrong.
But a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.
24 An evil person will get what he fears most.
But a good person will receive what he wants most.
25 A storm will blow the evil person away.
But a good person will always be safe.
26 A lazy person brings trouble to the one he works for.
He bothers others like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
27 Whoever respects the Lord will have a long life.
But an evil person will have his life cut short.
28 A good person can look forward to happiness.
But an evil person can expect nothing.
29 The Lord will protect good people.
But he will ruin those who do evil.
30 Good people will always be safe.
But evil people will not remain in the land.
31 A good person says wise things.
But a liar’s tongue will be stopped.
32 Good people say the right thing.
But the wicked tell lies.
11 The Lord hates dishonest scales.
But he is pleased with correct weights.
2 Pride leads only to shame.
It is wise not to be proud.
3 Good people will be guided by honesty.
But dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy.
4 Riches will not help when it’s time to die.
But doing what is right will save you from dying too soon.
5 The goodness of an innocent person makes his life easier.
But a wicked person will be destroyed by his wickedness.
6 Doing what is right brings freedom to honest people.
But those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.
7 When a wicked person dies, his hope is gone.
The hopes he placed in his riches will come to nothing.
8 The good man is saved from trouble.
It comes to the wicked instead.
9 By his words an evil person can destroy his neighbor.
But a good person will escape by being smart.
10 When good people succeed, the city is happy.
When evil people die, there are shouts of joy.
11 The influence of good people makes a city great.
But the wicked can destroy it with their words.
12 A person without good sense finds fault with his neighbor.
But a person with understanding keeps quiet.
13 A person who gossips can’t keep secrets.
But a trustworthy person can keep a secret.
14 Without leadership a nation will be defeated.
But when many people give advice, it will be safe.
15 Whoever guarantees to pay what somebody else owes will suffer.
It is safer to avoid such promises.
16 A kind woman is respected.
But cruel men get wealth.
17 A kind person is doing himself a favor.
But a cruel person brings trouble on himself.
18 An evil person really gains nothing from what he earns.
But a good person will surely be rewarded.
19 Those who are truly good will live.
But those who chase after evil will die.
20 The Lord hates those with evil hearts.
But he is pleased with those who are innocent.
21 You can be sure that evil people will be punished.
But those who do what is right will not be punished.
22 A beautiful woman without good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
23 The wishes of those who do right will come true.
But the hopes of the wicked will be defeated by God’s anger.
24 Some people give much but get back even more.
But others don’t give what they should, and they end up poor.
25 A person who gives to others will get richer.
Whoever helps others will himself be helped.
26 People curse someone who keeps all the grain for himself.
But they bless a person who is willing to sell it.
27 Whoever looks for good will find kindness.
But whoever looks for evil will find trouble.
28 Those who trust in riches will be ruined.
But a good person will be as healthy as a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind.
And a foolish person will become a servant to the wise.
30 As a tree makes fruit, a good person gives life to others.
The wise person shows others how to be wise.
31 Good people will be rewarded on earth.
So the wicked and the sinners will also be punished.
12 Anyone who loves learning accepts being corrected.
But a person who hates being corrected is stupid.
2 The Lord is pleased with a good person.
But he will punish anyone who plans evil.
3 Doing evil brings a person no safety at all.
But a good person has safety and security.
4 A good wife is like a crown for her husband.
But a disgraceful wife is like a disease in his bones.
5 The plans that good people make are fair.
But the advice of the wicked will trick you.
6 The wicked talk of killing people.
But the words of good people will save them.
7 Wicked people die and leave nothing behind.
But a good man’s family goes on.
8 A wise person is praised.
But a stupid person is not respected.
9 A person might not be important but still have a servant.
He is better off than someone who acts important but has no food.
10 A good man takes care of his animals.
But even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 The person who works his land will have plenty of food.
But the one who chases useless dreams isn’t wise.
12 Evil people want what other evil people have stolen.
But good people want to give to others.
13 Evil people are trapped by their evil talk.
But good people stay out of trouble.
14 A person will be rewarded for what he says.
And he will also be rewarded for what he does.
15 A foolish person thinks he is doing right.
But a wise person listens to advice.
16 A foolish person quickly shows that he is upset.
But a wise person ignores an insult.
17 An honest witness tells the truth.
But a dishonest witness tells lies.
18 Careless words stab like a sword.
But wise words bring healing.
19 Truth will last forever.
But lies last only a moment.
20 Those who plan evil mean to lie.
But those who plan peace will be happy.
21 No harm comes to a good person.
But an evil person’s life is full of trouble.
22 The Lord hates those who tell lies.
But he is pleased with those who do what they promise.
23 A wise person keeps what he knows to himself.
But a foolish person shows how foolish he is.
24 Hard workers will become leaders.
But those who are lazy will be slaves.
25 Worry makes a person feel as if he is carrying a heavy load.
But a kind word cheers up a person.
26 A good person takes advice from his friends.
But an evil person is easily led to do wrong.
27 A lazy person catches no food to cook.
But a hard worker will have great wealth.
28 Doing what is right is the way to life.
But there is another way that leads to death.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.