Diligence and Laziness
10 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son gives joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother.
2 Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 Adonai will not let a righteous soul go hungry,
but thwarts the cravings of the wicked.
4 Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Sayings of the Mouth Matter
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a babbling fool comes to ruin.
9 One who walks in integrity, walks securely,
but one who takes crooked paths will be discovered.
10 One who winks an eye maliciously causes grief,
while a babbling fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife
but love covers up all transgressions.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one lacking sense.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool is near ruin.
15 The wealth of a rich man is a strong city.
Poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous are life.
The income of the wicked is sin.[a]
17 One who heeds discipline is on the path of life,
but whoever ignores correction goes astray.
18 One who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 When words abound, transgression is unavoidable.
but whoever restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver.
The heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of understanding.
Dread or Hope
22 The blessing of Adonai brings wealth
and He adds no trouble with it.
23 As doing wickedness is delight to a fool,
so is wisdom to a man of discernment.
24 What the wicked dread will fall on them.
The desire of the righteous will be given.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more,
but the foundation of the righteous is everlasting.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth or smoke to the eyes,
so is a slacker to those who send him.
27 The fear of Adonai prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hope of the wicked perishes.
29 The way of Adonai is a stronghold to the upright,
but it is a ruin to those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing,
but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:16 cf. Rom. 6:23.