The Proverbs of Solomon
Chapter 10
The One Who Leads an Honest Life . . .
1 The Proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son gives grief to his mother.
2 Treasures obtained by wicked means profit nothing,
but a righteous life brings delivery from death.
3 The Lord will not allow the righteous to go hungry,
but he foils the craving of the wicked.
4 Idle hands ensure poverty,
but the hands of the diligent bring riches.
5 A son who gathers the crops during the summer is wise,
but a son who sleeps at harvest-time is shameful.
6 Blessings are showered on the head of the righteous,
but sorrow will cover the face of the wicked.
7 The righteous is remembered with blessings,
but the name of the wicked fades away.
8 A wise man will heed commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to grief.
9 Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety,
but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out.
10 Anyone who winks with the eye causes trouble,
but the one who rebukes promotes peace.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked is filled with violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love overlooks all offenses.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of one who has understanding,
but a rod is in store for the back of a fool.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool precipitates ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich man is his stronghold;
the poverty of the lowly is his undoing.
16 The reward of the righteous leads to life;
the gains of the wicked lead to sin.
17 Whoever heeds admonition is on the path to life,
but anyone who rejects correction goes astray.
18 Lying lips conceal hatred,
and anyone who slanders another is a fool.
19 Where many words are spoken, sin is not absent,
but whoever restrains his tongue is prudent.
20 The tongue of the just man is like pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is without worth.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the Lord is what brings wealth,
and our toil adds nothing to it.
23 Doing wrong affords pleasure to the fool,
but wisdom is a delight to an intelligent man.
24 What the wicked man fears catches up with him,
but what the righteous man desires is granted.
25 When the storm ends, the wicked man is no more,
but the righteous man stands firm forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those he serves.
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The hope of the righteous brings them joy,
but the expectations of the wicked are frustrated.
29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright,
but destruction for evildoers.
30 The righteous man will never be destroyed,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous dispenses wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness,
but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:1
- Proverbs 10:1
- Proverbs 10:4
- Proverbs 10:5
- Proverbs 10:15
- Proverbs 10:16
- Proverbs 10:22
- Proverbs 10:24
- Proverbs 10:26
- Proverbs 10:29
