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10 Happy is the man with a level-headed son; sad the mother of a rebel.

Ill-gotten gain brings no lasting happiness; right living does.

The Lord will not let a good man starve to death, nor will he let the wicked man’s riches continue forever.

Lazy men are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity.

The good man is covered with blessings from head to foot, but an evil man inwardly curses his luck.[a]

We all have happy memories of good men gone to their reward, but the names of wicked men stink after them.

The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.

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

  1. Proverbs 10:6 an evil man inwardly curses his luck, literally, “but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
  2. Proverbs 10:13 admired, implied.
  3. Proverbs 10:15 only . . . only, implied.
  4. Proverbs 10:22 All our work adds nothing to it, or “And he adds no sorrow therewith.”
  5. Proverbs 10:27 adds hours to each day, literally, “prolongs days.”

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.