Solomon’s Sayings
10 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grieves his mother.
2 Nothing good comes from ill-gotten wealth,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord won’t cause the righteous to hunger,
but he will reject what the wicked crave.
4 Lazy hands bring poverty,
but hard-working hands lead to wealth.
5 Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely,
but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
The Righteous and Wicked Compared
6 Blessings come[a] upon the head of the righteous,
but the words[b] of the wicked conceal violence.
7 The reputation[c] of the righteous leads to blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise person[d] accepts commands,
but the chattering fool will be brought down.
9 Whoever walks in integrity lives prudently,[e]
but whoever perverts his way of life will be exposed.
10 Those who wink their eyes[f] are trouble makers,
and the mocking fool will be brought down.[g]
11 What the righteous say[h] is a flowing fountain,[i]
but what the wicked say[j] conceals violence.
12 Hatred awakens contention,
but love covers all transgressions.
13 Wisdom characterizes the speech[k] of the discerning,
but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.
14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
but when the fool speaks,[l] destruction is near.
15 The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth,
but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.
16 Honorable wages lead[m] to life;
the salaries of the wicked, to retribution.
17 Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life,
but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.
18 Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 Transgression is at work where people talk too much,
but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent.
20 What the righteous person says[n] is like precious silver;
the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things.
21 What the righteous person says[o] nourishes many,
but fools die because they lack discerning[p] hearts.
22 The blessing of the Lord establishes wealth,
and difficulty does not accompany it.
23 Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy,
so is wisdom to the discerning man.
24 What the wicked fears will come about,
but the longing of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the storm ends, the wicked vanish,[q]
but the righteous person is forever firm.
26 As vinegar is to the mouth[r] and smoke to the eyes,
so is the lazy person to those who send him.
27 Fearing the Lord prolongs life,
but the wicked will not live long.
28 What the righteous hope for brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked dies.
29 To the upright, the way of the Lord is a place of safety,
but it’s a place of ruin to those who practice evil.
30 The righteous will never be overthrown,
but the wicked will never inhabit the land.
31 The words of the righteous overflow with wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 Righteous lips know what is prudent,
but the words of the wicked are perverse.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:6 The Heb. lacks come
- Proverbs 10:6 Lit. mouth
- Proverbs 10:7 Lit. memorial
- Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart
- Proverbs 10:9 Lit. lives in safety
- Proverbs 10:10 I.e. Those whose looks communicate insincerity
- Proverbs 10:10 So MT; LXX reads makers, but the one who reproves publicly makes peace
- Proverbs 10:11 Lit. The mouth of the righteous
- Proverbs 10:11 Lit. a fountain of life
- Proverbs 10:11 Lit. but the mouth of the wicked
- Proverbs 10:13 Lit. Wisdom is found on the lips
- Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool
- Proverbs 10:16 The Heb. lacks lead
- Proverbs 10:20 Lit. The tongue of the righteous
- Proverbs 10:21 Lit. The lips of the righteous
- Proverbs 10:21 The Heb. lacks discerning
- Proverbs 10:25 Lit. wicked are no more
- Proverbs 10:26 Lit. teeth