Proverbs 10
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness of his mother.
Solomon's proverbs. A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid son only brings his mother grief.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Wealth gained through evil does you no good; but living right saves 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.
The Lord doesn't let good people go hungry, but he stops the wicked from getting what they want.
4 He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Lazy hands make you poor, but hard-working hands make you rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son: [but] he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame.
A son who gathers crops during the summer is sensible, but the one who sleeps during harvest brings disgrace.
6 Blessings [are] upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Those who are good are blessed, but what the wicked say hides their violent nature.
7 The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
The good are remembered as a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Those who think wisely pay attention to instruction, but a stupid chatterbox ends up in disaster.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
Honest people will live in safety, but those who behave deceitfully will be caught out.
10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
People who wink slyly cause trouble, but someone who gives a strong rebuke brings peace.
11 The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
What good people say is a spring that gives life, but what the wicked say hides their violent nature.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Hatred causes conflict, but love covers all wrongs.
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 comes from people with good judgment, but stupid people are punished with a rod.
14 Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.
Wise people accumulate knowledge, but the chattering of stupid people is a prelude to disaster.
15 The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city: the destruction of the poor [is] their poverty.
The wealth of the rich provides them protection, while the poverty of the poor ruins them.
16 The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
If you do right you're rewarded with life, but if you're wicked all you gain is sin.
17 He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
If you accept instruction, you're on the path to life, but if you reject correction you'll go astray.
18 He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool.
Anyone who hides their hatred is lying, and anyone who spreads slander is stupid.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise.
If you talk too much, you'll say something wrong. Be wise and take care what you say.
20 The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver: the heart of the wicked [is] little worth.
What good people say is like the best silver, but the mind of the wicked isn't worth much.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Advice from good people helps feed many others, but stupid people die because they have no sense.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
The Lord's blessing makes you rich, and he doesn't add any sadness to accompany it.
23 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Stupid people think it's fun to do wrong, but someone who has wisdom understands what's right.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
What the wicked fear will happen to them, while what good people hope for will be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no [more: ] but the righteous [is] an everlasting foundation.
When the storm hits, the wicked are no more, but the good are safe and secure forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send him.
In the same way vinegar irritates the teeth and smoke irritates the eyes, lazy people irritate their employers.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Honoring the Lord makes your life longer, but the years the wicked live will be cut short.
28 The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Good people look forward to happiness, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.
The way of the Lord protects those who do right, but he destroys those who do evil.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
The good will never be removed from the land, but the wicked will not remain there.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
What good people say produces wisdom, but liars will have their tongues cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.
Good people know the right thing to say, but the wicked always lie.
