Proverbs 10

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

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes his father rejoice but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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

Treasures accumulated by wickedness have no value, but doing what is right keeps you from death.

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

Yahweh does not let the soul of the righteous person go hungry, but he frustrates the cravings of the wicked.

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

A lazy hand causes a person to be poor, but the hand of the diligent person gains riches.

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

A wise son gathers a crop in the summer, but it is disgraceful for him to sleep during harvest.

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

Gifts from God are upon the head of the righteous person, but the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.

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

The righteous person makes those who remember him happy, but the name of the wicked will rot away.

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

Those who are sensible accept commands, but a talkative fool will come to ruin.

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

He who walks in integrity walks in safety, but the one who makes his ways crooked, he will be found out.

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

He who winks the eye causes grief, but a talkative fool will be thrown down.

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

The mouth of the righteous person is a water spring of life, but the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.

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

Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers over all offenses.

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.

Wisdom is found on the lips of a discerning person, but a rod is for the back of the one who has no sense.

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

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings destruction near.

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

The wealth of a rich man is his fortified city; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

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

The wage of the righteous person leads to life; the profit of the wicked leads them to sin.

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

There is a path to life for the one who follows discipline, but the one who rejects correction is led astray.

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

Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

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

When there are many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who is careful in what he says is wise.

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

The tongue of the righteous person is pure silver; there is little value in the heart of the wicked.

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

The lips of the righteous person nourish many, but fools die because of their lack of sense.

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

The good gifts of Yahweh bring wealth and he adds no pain to it.

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

Wickedness is a game a fool plays, but wisdom is a pleasure to a man of understanding.

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

The fear of the wicked person will overtake him, but the desire of righteous people will be granted.

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

The wicked are like the storm that passes by, and they are no more, but the righteous person is a foundation that lasts forever.

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

Like vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

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

The fear of Yahweh prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

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

The hope of righteous people is their joy, but the years of wicked people will be short.

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

The way of Yahweh protects those who have integrity, but it is destruction for the wicked.

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

The righteous person will never be overthrown, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

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

Out of the mouth of the righteous person comes the fruit of wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.

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

The lips of the righteous person know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, they know what is perverse.