Beginning
Diligence and Laziness
10 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son gives joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother.
2 Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 Adonai will not let a righteous soul go hungry,
but thwarts the cravings of the wicked.
4 Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Sayings of the Mouth Matter
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a babbling fool comes to ruin.
9 One who walks in integrity, walks securely,
but one who takes crooked paths will be discovered.
10 One who winks an eye maliciously causes grief,
while a babbling fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife
but love covers up all transgressions.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one lacking sense.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool is near ruin.
15 The wealth of a rich man is a strong city.
Poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous are life.
The income of the wicked is sin.[a]
17 One who heeds discipline is on the path of life,
but whoever ignores correction goes astray.
18 One who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 When words abound, transgression is unavoidable.
but whoever restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver.
The heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of understanding.
Dread or Hope
22 The blessing of Adonai brings wealth
and He adds no trouble with it.
23 As doing wickedness is delight to a fool,
so is wisdom to a man of discernment.
24 What the wicked dread will fall on them.
The desire of the righteous will be given.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more,
but the foundation of the righteous is everlasting.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth or smoke to the eyes,
so is a slacker to those who send him.
27 The fear of Adonai prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hope of the wicked perishes.
29 The way of Adonai is a stronghold to the upright,
but it is a ruin to those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing,
but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Integrity of Scales and Soul
11 Dishonest scales are an abomination to Adonai,
but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 Riches make no profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless man makes his way straight,
but the wicked man is brought down by his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their desire.
Righteousness Builds Up a City
7 When the wicked dies, his hope perishes,
and the hope of the strong vanishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from trouble.
Instead it comes on the wicked.
9 With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 When the righteous do well, a city rejoices.
When the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12 One who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
but one with discernment remains silent.
13 A gossip reveals secrets,
but one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
14 Without guidance people fall,
with many counselors there is deliverance.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will have trouble,
but whoever avoids shaking hands on such a deal is secure.
Rewards for Righteous or Ruthless
16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but ruthless men seize riches.
17 A kind man does his own soul good,
but a cruel man harms his own flesh.
18 The wicked earn deceptive wages,
but a sower of righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Steadfast righteousness leads to life,
but pursuing evil ends in death.
20 Perverse hearts are an abomination to Adonai.
His favor is on those blameless in their ways.
21 Be sure,[b] the evil will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the hope of the wicked only wrath.
24 One gives freely, yet gains even more.
Another withholds unjustly, and comes to poverty.
25 A soul who blesses will prosper,
and one who gives water will himself be satisfied.
26 People curse anyone withholding grain,
but blessing is on the head of one who dispenses it.
27 A person who diligently seeks good finds favor,
but to one who searches for evil, evil comes to him!
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit wind,
and the fool will be a servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous is rewarded on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner![c]
The Righteous and the Wicked
12 Whoever loves knowledge loves correction,
but whoever hates reproof is stupid.
2 A good man obtains favor from Adonai,
but He condemns a person with evil schemes.
3 No one is made secure by wickedness,
but a righteous root will not be moved.
4 A virtuous wife is her husband’s crown,
but a dishonoring one is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the household of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is praised according to his insight,
but one with a twisted mind is despised.
9 Better to have little honor and a servant
than to have glory and no bread.
Caring for Animals and Land
10 A righteous person cares for the life of his animal,
yet even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense.
12 The wicked covets the loot of evil men,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.
Fruit of Mouth
13 An evil one is ensnared by the sin of lips,
but the righteous one escapes trouble.
14 By the fruit of his mouth a man will be satisfied with good.
The work of a man’s hands will reward him.
15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,
but the wise listen to advice.
16 A fool shows his irritation immediately,
but a prudent person overlooks an insult.
17 A trustworthy witness tells what is right,
but a false witness, deceit.
18 Reckless speech is like the thrusts of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue for only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
but those promoting shalom have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are full of misery.
22 Lying lips are detestable to Adonai,
but those who act faithfully are His delight.
23 A clever person conceals his knowledge,
but the heart of a fool blurts out folly.
Diligence or Sloth
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the lazy will become forced labor.
25 An anxious heart weighs one down,
but a good word cheers him up.
26 The righteous gives his friend guidance,
but the way of the wicked leads astray.
27 A lazy person does not roast his game,
but a diligent person prizes his possessions.
28 In the path of righteousness is life—
it is a path to immortality.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.