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Solomon’s Sayings

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son brings joy to his father,
    but a foolish son grieves his mother.

Nothing good comes from ill-gotten wealth,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
The Lord won’t cause the righteous to hunger,
    but he will reject what the wicked crave.

Lazy hands bring poverty,
    but hard-working hands lead to wealth.
Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely,
    but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

The Righteous and Wicked Compared

Blessings come[a] upon the head of the righteous,
    but the words[b] of the wicked conceal violence.
The reputation[c] of the righteous leads to blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise person[d] accepts commands,
    but the chattering fool will be brought down.

Whoever walks in integrity lives prudently,[e]
    but whoever perverts his way of life will be exposed.
10 Those who wink their eyes[f] are trouble makers,
    and the mocking fool will be brought down.[g]

11 What the righteous say[h] is a flowing fountain,[i]
    but what the wicked say[j] conceals violence.
12 Hatred awakens contention,
    but love covers all transgressions.
13 Wisdom characterizes the speech[k] of the discerning,
    but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.
14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[l] destruction is near.
15 The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth,
    but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

16 Honorable wages lead[m] to life;
    the salaries of the wicked, to retribution.
17 Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life,
    but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar,
    and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 Transgression is at work where people talk too much,
    but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent.
20 What the righteous person says[n] is like precious silver;
    the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things.
21 What the righteous person says[o] nourishes many,
    but fools die because they lack discerning[p] hearts.

22 The blessing of the Lord establishes wealth,
    and difficulty does not accompany it.
23 Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy,
    so is wisdom to the discerning man.
24 What the wicked fears will come about,
    but the longing of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the storm ends, the wicked vanish,[q]
    but the righteous person is forever firm.

26 As vinegar is to the mouth[r] and smoke to the eyes,
    so is the lazy person to those who send him.
27 Fearing the Lord prolongs life,
    but the wicked will not live long.
28 What the righteous hope for brings joy,
    but the expectation of the wicked dies.
29 To the upright, the way of the Lord is a place of safety,
    but it’s a place of ruin to those who practice evil.
30 The righteous will never be overthrown,
    but the wicked will never inhabit the land.

31 The words of the righteous overflow with wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 Righteous lips know what is prudent,
    but the words of the wicked are perverse.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 The Heb. lacks come
  2. Proverbs 10:6 Lit. mouth
  3. Proverbs 10:7 Lit. memorial
  4. Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart
  5. Proverbs 10:9 Lit. lives in safety
  6. Proverbs 10:10 I.e. Those whose looks communicate insincerity
  7. Proverbs 10:10 So MT; LXX reads makers, but the one who reproves publicly makes peace
  8. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. The mouth of the righteous
  9. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. a fountain of life
  10. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. but the mouth of the wicked
  11. Proverbs 10:13 Lit. Wisdom is found on the lips
  12. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool
  13. Proverbs 10:16 The Heb. lacks lead
  14. Proverbs 10:20 Lit. The tongue of the righteous
  15. Proverbs 10:21 Lit. The lips of the righteous
  16. Proverbs 10:21 The Heb. lacks discerning
  17. Proverbs 10:25 Lit. wicked are no more
  18. Proverbs 10:26 Lit. teeth

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.

10 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.