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The Proverbs of Solomon[a]

10 These are the proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes his father happy.
    But a foolish child causes his mother to be sad.
If you are not honest, your money will not help you.
    But if you are righteous, it will save you from death.
The Lord will not let righteous people be hungry.
    But he will not let bad people get what they want.
If a man is lazy, he will soon be poor.
    But if he works hard, he will become rich.
A wise man cuts his crops at harvest time and he stores them.
    But anyone who does no work at harvest time brings shame.
God blesses righteous people.
    But the words of wicked people hide their anger.
It is a pleasure to remember righteous people.
    But when wicked people die, people soon forget their name.
Wise people accept good teaching.
    But people who talk in a foolish way destroy themselves.
If people are honest, their lives are safe.
    But those who are not honest will receive punishment.
10 Someone who deceives his friends causes trouble.
    And someone who speaks in foolish ways will destroy himself.
11 The teaching of righteous people gives life, like a spring of water.
    But the words of wicked people hide their anger.
12 When people hate others, it causes arguments.
    But love covers over all sins.
13 People who understand what is right speak wise words.
    But silly people receive the punishment that they deserve.
14 Wise people store knowledge in their minds.
    But when foolish people speak, trouble is near.
15 Money keeps rich people safe, like a strong city.
    But poor people die because they have no one to help them.
16 Righteous people receive life as their wages.[b]
    Wicked people receive only punishment.
17 People who listen when people warn them are on the road to life.
    But those who refuse to listen are on a different road.
18 If you hate somebody but you try to hide it, you are telling lies.
    And if you say false things about other people, you are a fool.
19 If you talk too much, you will soon do something wrong.
    But if you are wise, you will stop talking.
20 The words of righteous people are as valuable as the best silver.
    But the thoughts of wicked people are useless.
21 The teaching of righteous people will help many people.
    But foolish people die because they are so stupid.
22 If the Lord blesses you, you are really rich.
    Hard work will not make you any richer.
23 A foolish person is happy when he does wicked things.
    But a wise person enjoys doing things that are right.
24 The trouble that wicked people are afraid of will certainly happen to them.
    But righteous people will receive the things that they want.
25 When the storm has finished, wicked people are no longer there.
    But righteous people are still standing safely.
26 Do not send a lazy person with a message.
    He will bring you pain, like the taste of bitter wine,
    or like smoke in your eyes.
27 If you respect and obey the Lord, you will live longer.
    But wicked people will die before they are old.
28 What good people hope to receive causes them to be happy.
    But wicked people never receive what they hope for.
29 The Lord keeps honest people safe.
    But he punishes people who do wrong things.
30 Righteous people will always have a safe place to live.
    But wicked people will not continue to live in the land.
31 Righteous people speak wise words.
    But those who speak evil things will lose their tongues!
32 Righteous people say kind things.
    But wicked people say things that hurt others.

Footnotes

  1. 10:1 This part of the Book of Proverbs (chapters 10 to 22) contains short proverbs. Most proverbs have two lines.
  2. 10:16 You do work and someone pays you for it. That money is called wages.

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(D)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(E)

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,(F)
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.(G)

Lazy hands make for poverty,(H)
    but diligent hands bring wealth.(I)

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.(J)

Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a](K)

The name of the righteous(L) is used in blessings,[b]
    but the name of the wicked(M) will rot.(N)

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(O)

Whoever walks in integrity(P) walks securely,(Q)
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.(R)

10 Whoever winks maliciously(S) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(T)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(U)

12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(V)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(W)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(X)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(Y)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(Z)

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,(AA)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.(AB)

16 The wages of the righteous is life,(AC)
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.(AD)

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(AE)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(AF)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.(AG)

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.(AH)

22 The blessing of the Lord(AI) brings wealth,(AJ)
    without painful toil for it.(AK)

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(AL)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 What the wicked dread(AM) will overtake them;(AN)
    what the righteous desire will be granted.(AO)

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
    but the righteous stand firm(AP) forever.(AQ)

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke(AR) to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.(AS)

27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(AT)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(AU)

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.(AV)

29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.(AW)

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.(AX)

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(AY)
    but a perverse tongue(AZ) will be silenced.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,(BA)
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.(BB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
  2. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.