10 In this Chapter, and all that follow, unto the thirtieth, the wise man exhorteth by divers sentences, which he calleth Parables, to follow virtue, and flee vice: and also showeth what profit cometh of wisdom, and what hindrance proceedeth of foolishness.
THE PARABLE OF SOLOMON.
1 A wise (A)son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is an heaviness to his mother.
2 The treasures of [a]wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
3 The Lord will [b]not famish the soul of the righteous: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
4 A [c]slothful hand maketh poor: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer, is the son of wisdom: but he that sleepeth in harvest, is the son of confusion.
6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous: but iniquity shall cover the mouth of [d]the wicked.
7 The memorial of the just shall be blessed: but the name of the wicked shall [e]rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but the foolish in [f]talk shall be beaten.
9 He that walketh uprightly, walketh [g]boldly: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be known.
10 He that [h]winketh with the eye, worketh sorrow, and he that is [i]foolish in talk, shall be beaten.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a wellspring of life: but iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirreth up contentions: (B)but love covereth all trespasses.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding, wisdom is found, and [j]a rod shall be for the back of him that is destitute of wisdom.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is a present destruction.
15 The rich man’s goods are his [k]strong city: but the fear of the needy is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: but the revenues of the wicked to sin.
17 He that regardeth instruction is in the way of life: but he that refuseth correction, goeth out of the way.
18 He that dissembleth hatred with lying lips, and he that inventeth slander, is a fool.
19 In many words there cannot want iniquity: but he that refraineth his lips, is wise:
20 The tongue of the just man is as fined silver: but the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous do [l]feed many: but fools shall die for want of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he doth add [m]no sorrows with it.
23 It is a pastime to a fool to do wickedly: but wisdom is understanding to a man.
24 That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him: but God will grant the desire of the righteous.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is as an everlasting foundation.
26 As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the slothful to them that [n]send him.
27 The fear of the Lord increaseth the days: but the years of the wicked [o]shall be diminished.
28 The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladness: but the hope of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright man: but fear shall be for the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall [p]never be removed: but the wicked shall not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the just shall be fruitful in wisdom: but the tongue of the froward shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh froward things.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:2 That is, wickedly gotten.
- Proverbs 10:3 Though he suffer the just to want for a time, yet he will send him comfort in due season.
- Proverbs 10:4 Or, deceitful.
- Proverbs 10:6 When their wickedness shall be discovered, they shall be as dumb, and not know what to say.
- Proverbs 10:7 Shall be vile and abhorred both of God and man, contrary to their own expectation, which think to make their name immortal.
- Proverbs 10:8 Hebrew, lips.
- Proverbs 10:9 Or, surely.
- Proverbs 10:10 That beareth a fair countenance, and imagineth mischief in his heart, as Prov. 6:13.
- Proverbs 10:10 For the corruption of his heart is known by his talk.
- Proverbs 10:13 That is, God will find him out to punish him.
- Proverbs 10:15 And so maketh him bold to do evil, whereas poverty bridleth the poor from many evil things.
- Proverbs 10:21 For they speak truth, and edify many by exhortations, admonition, and counsel.
- Proverbs 10:22 Meaning, that all worldly things bring care, and sorrow, whereas they that feel the blessings of God, have none.
- Proverbs 10:26 He is but a trouble and grief to him about any business.
- Proverbs 10:27 The time of their prosperity shall be short because of their great fall, though they seem to live long.
- Proverbs 10:30 They enjoy in this life by faith and hope, their everlasting life.