Proverbs 10

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

These [are more] proverbs/wise sayings from Solomon: If children are wise, they cause their parents to be happy; but if children are foolish, they cause their parents to be very sad.

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

Money that you get by doing dishonest/wicked things will really not benefit you; but by living righteously you will live for (a long time/many years).

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

Yahweh does not allow righteous [people] to starve, but he will prevent wicked [people] from getting what they want.

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

Lazy people [soon] become poor; it is those who work hard who become rich.

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

Those who are wise, harvest the crops when they are ripe; it is shameful/disgraceful to sleep [and not work] during harvest time.

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

Righteous [people will] be blessed [by God]; [the nice things] that wicked [people] say [MTY] [sometimes] conceal the fact that they [are planning to] act violently.

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

After righteous [people die], other people are blessed as they remember [what those people did before they died]; but we will soon forget wicked people [MTY] after they die.

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

Wise people heed good instruction/advice, but people who talk foolishly will ruin themselves.

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

Honest people will be safe, but [others] (OR, God) will find out those who are dishonest.

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

Those who signal with their eyes [that they are about to do something that is wrong] cause trouble, but those who rebuke others truthfully cause them to be peaceful.

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

What righteous [people] say [MTY] is [like] a fountain that (gives life/enables people to live many years) [MET], but what wicked [people] say [MTY] hides [the fact] that they intend to act violently.

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

When we hate others, it causes quarrels, but if we love others, we forgive them [for the wrong things that they do].

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.

Those who have good sense say [MTY] what is wise, but people who do not have good sense must be punished.

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

Wise people continue to learn all that they can, but when foolish people speak, they soon cause trouble.

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

The wealth that rich people have [protects them like a city is protected by a] strong wall around it [MET], but people who are poor suffer much [because they have no one to help them].

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

If you are righteous, your reward will be a good life, [but] all that sinful people gain is to sin more.

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

Those who pay attention when others try to (correct them/teach them what they are doing that is wrong) will live (happily/for many years); but those who reject being rebuked will not find the road to life (OR, cause others to go astray).

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

Those who will not admit that they hate [others] are liars, and those who slander [others] are foolish.

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

When people talk a lot, that will lead them to sin a lot [by what they say]; if you are wise, you will refuse to say very much.

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

What righteous/good [people] say [MTY] is [as valuable as] pure silver [MET]; what wicked [people] think is worthless.

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

What righteous [people] say [MTY] benefits many [people], but foolish people die because of the stupid [things that they do].

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

Yahweh blesses [some people] by enabling them to become rich, and working hard will not make them to become richer (OR, and he will not also cause them to become sad).

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

Foolish people (have fun/enjoy) doing what is wrong, but wise/sensible people enjoy doing what is wise.

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

Righteous [people] will get the good things that they want/desire, but what wicked [people] are afraid of is what will happen to them.

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

When storms come, the wicked will (be blown away/never be safe), but righteous [people will] be safe forever.

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

We do not like a lazy person who refuses to do the job that he is given to do, [just] like we do not like vinegar in our mouths or smoke in our eyes.

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

If you revere Yahweh, you will live for a long time; but wicked [people] die before they become old.

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

Righteous [people] confidently expect [that good things will happen to them], and that causes them to be happy/joyful; but when wicked [people] confidently expect something good to happen, it does not happen.

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

Yahweh protects [MET] those who live righteously, but he destroys those who do what is evil.

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

Righteous [people] will always be secure [LIT], but wicked people will be removed from their land (OR, from this earth).

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

Righteous people [MTY] say things that are wise, but [God] will shut the mouths of people [MTY] who say what is not true.

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

Righteous people [MTY] know what to say that is acceptable, but wicked [people] [MTY] are [constantly] saying things that are not true.