Proverbs 10

Chapter 10

The Proverbs of Solomon

The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child brings joy to a father;

a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

²Tainted wealth has no lasting value,

but right living can save your life.

³The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,

but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

⁴Lazy people are soon poor;

hard workers get rich.

⁵A wise youth harvests in the summer,

but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

⁶The godly are showered with blessings;

the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

⁷We have happy memories of the godly,

but the name of a wicked person rots away.

⁸The wise are glad to be instructed,

but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

⁹People with integrity walk safely,

but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

¹⁰People who wink at wrong cause trouble,

but a bold reproof promotes peace.

¹¹The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;

the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

¹²Hatred stirs up quarrels,

but love makes up for all offenses.

¹³Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,

but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

¹⁴Wise people treasure knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

¹⁵The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

¹⁶The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,

but evil people squander their money on sin.

¹⁷People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,

but those who ignore correction will go astray.

¹⁸Hiding hatred makes you a liar;

slandering others makes you a fool.

¹⁹Too much talk leads to sin.

Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

²⁰The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

the heart of a fool is worthless.

²¹The words of the godly encourage many,

but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

²²The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it.

²³Doing wrong is fun for a fool,

but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

²⁴The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;

the hopes of the godly will be granted.

²⁵When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,

but the godly have a lasting foundation.

²⁶Lazy people irritate their employers,

like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

²⁷Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,

but the years of the wicked are cut short.

²⁸The hopes of the godly result in happiness,

but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

²⁹The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,

but it destroys the wicked.

³⁰The godly will never be disturbed,

but the wicked will be removed from the land.

³¹The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,

but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

³²The lips of the godly speak helpful words,

but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.