Proverbs 10

1 A wise son makes [his] father glad: but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

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

2 Treasures shall not profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death.

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

3 The Lord will not famish a righteous soul: but he will overthrow the life of the ungodly.

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

4 Poverty brings a man low: but the hands of the vigourous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.

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

5 A wise son is saved from heat: but a lawless son is blighted of the winds in harvest.

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

6 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but untimely grief shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

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

7 The memory of the just is praised; but the name of the ungodly [man] is extinguished.

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

8 A wise man in heart will receive commandments; but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness.

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

9 He that walks simply, walks confidently; but he that perverts his ways shall be known.

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

10 He that winks with his eyes deceitfully, procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker.

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

11 [There is] a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

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

12 Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

13 He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the fool with a rod.

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.

14 The wise will hide discretion; but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin.

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

15 The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly.

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

16 The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly [produce] sins.

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

17 Instruction keeps the right ways of life; but instruction unchastened goes astray.

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

18 Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish.

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

19 By a multitude of words you shall not escape sin; but if you refrain your lips you will be prudent.

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

20 The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail.

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

21 The lips of the righteous know sublime [truths]: but the foolish die in lack.

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

22 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous; it enriches [him], and grief of heart shall not be added to [it].

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

23 A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.

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

24 The ungodly is engulfed in destruction; but the desire of the righteous is acceptable.

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

25 When the storm passes by, the ungodly vanishes away; but the righteous turns aside and escapes for ever.

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

26 As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practise it.

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

27 The fear of the Lord adds [length] of days: but the years of the ungodly shall be shortened.

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

28 Joy rests long with the righteous: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

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

29 The fear of the Lord is a strong hold of the saints: but ruin [comes] to them that work wickedness.

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

30 The righteous shall never fail: but the ungodly shall not dwell in the earth.

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

31 The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.

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

32 The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.

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