Proverbs 10

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

A wise son gladdens the father. Yet truly, a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

Treasures of impiety will profit nothing. Truly, justice shall liberate from death.

3 The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

The Lord will not afflict with famine the soul of the just, and he will overthrow the treacheries of the impious.

4 He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

The neglectful hand has wrought destitution. But the hand of the steadfast prepares riches. He who advances by lies, this one feeds on the wind. For he is the same as one who runs after flying birds.

5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

He who gathers the harvest is a wise son. But he who snores in warm weather is a son of confusion.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

The blessing of the Lord is on the head of the just. But iniquity covers the mouth of the impious.

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

The remembrance of the just is with praises. And the name of the impious shall decay.

8 The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

The wise of heart accept precepts. The foolish are cut down by the lips.

9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

He who walks in simplicity walks in confidence. But he who corrupts his ways shall be discovered.

10 One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.

He who winks with the eye gives sorrow. And the foolish in lips shall be beaten.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

The mouth of the just is a vein of life. And the mouth of the impious covers iniquity.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

Hatred rises up from disputes. And charity covers all offenses.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

In the lips of the wise, wisdom is discovered. And a rod is for the back of one who lacks heart.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

The wise store away knowledge. But the mouth of the foolish is a neighbor to confusion.

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

The substance of the rich is the city of his strength. The fear of the poor is their destitution.

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

The work of the just is unto life. But the fruit of the impious is unto sin.

17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

The way of life is for those who observe discipline. But whoever abandons correction wanders astray.

18 He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

Lying lips conceal hatred; whoever brings forth contempt is unwise.

19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

In a multitude of speaking, sin will not be lacking. But whoever tempers his lips is most prudent.

20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

The tongue of the just is choice silver. But the heart of the impious is exchanged for nothing.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

The lips of the just instruct many. But those who are unlearned shall die in destitution of heart.

22 The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

The blessing of the Lord causes riches. Affliction will not be a companion to them.

23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

The foolish work wickedness as if in jest. But wisdom is prudence to a man.

24 What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

What the impious fear will overwhelm them. The just shall be given their desire.

25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.

Like a passing tempest, so the impious one will be no more. But the just one is like an everlasting foundation.

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

Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is a lazy one to those who sent him.

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The fear of the Lord adds days. And the years of the impious will be shortened.

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.

The expectation of the just is rejoicing. But the hope of the impious will perish.

29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

The strength of the simple is the way of the Lord, and it is fear to those who work evil.

30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

The just in eternity shall not be moved. But the impious will not live upon the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom. The tongue of the depraved will perish.

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

The lips of the just consider what is acceptable. And the mouth of the impious considers perversities.