Proverbs 10 - Modern English Version (MEV)

The Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

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

3 The Lord will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish,
but He casts away the desire of the wicked.

4 He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

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

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

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

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

9 He who walks uprightly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be known.

10 He who winks with the eye causes sorrow,
but a prating fool will fall.

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

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

13 In the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

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

16 The labor of the righteous tends to life,
the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
but he who refuses reproof errs.

18 He who hides hatred has lying lips,
and he who spreads slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
but he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of wisdom.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and He adds no sorrow with it.

23 To do mischief is like sport to a fool,
but a man of understanding has wisdom.

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

25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more,
but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

26 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 prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked will be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright,
but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just brings forth 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 speaks what is perverse.