Bible Browser

Wise Sayings of Solomon

10The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes a glad father,
   but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.
² Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
   but righteousness delivers from death.
³ The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
   but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴ A slack hand causes poverty,
   but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵ A child who gathers in summer is prudent,
   but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.
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 of heart will heed commandments,
   but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
⁹ Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
   but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.
¹⁰ Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
   but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace.^*
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 all offences.
¹³ On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
   but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.
¹⁴ The wise lay up knowledge,
   but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.
¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
   the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
¹⁶ The wage of the righteous leads to life,
   the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷ Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
   but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.
¹⁸ Lying lips conceal hatred,
   and whoever utters slander is a fool.
¹⁹ When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
   but the prudent are restrained in speech.
²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
   the mind of the wicked is of little worth.
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many,
   but fools die for lack of sense.
²² The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
   and he adds no sorrow with it.^*
23 Doing wrong is like sport to a fool,
   but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.
²⁴ What the wicked dread will come upon them,
   but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
²⁵ When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more,
   but the righteous are established for ever.
²⁶ Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,
   so are the lazy to their employers.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
   but the years of the wicked will be short.
²⁸ The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,
   but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.
²⁹ The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright,
   but destruction for evildoers.
³⁰ The righteous will never be removed,
   but the wicked will not remain in the land.
³¹ The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
   but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
³² The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
   but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

11A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
   but an accurate weight is his delight.
² When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
   but wisdom is with the humble.
³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
   but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
   but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
   but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright saves them,
   but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.
⁷ When the wicked die, their hope perishes,
   and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.
⁸ The righteous are delivered from trouble,
   and the wicked get into it instead.
⁹ With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbours,
   but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
   and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
   but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
¹² Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
   but an intelligent person remains silent.
¹³ A gossip goes about telling secrets,
   but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.
¹⁴ Where there is no guidance, a nation^* falls,
   but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.
¹⁵ To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
   but there is safety in refusing to do so.
¹⁶ A gracious woman gets honour,
   but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.^*
The timid become destitute,^*
   but the aggressive gain riches.
¹⁷ Those who are kind reward themselves,
   but the cruel do themselves harm.
¹⁸ The wicked earn no real gain,
   but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
   but whoever pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
   but those of blameless ways are his delight.
²¹ Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
   but those who are righteous will escape.
²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
   is a beautiful woman without good sense.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
   the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴ Some give freely, yet grow all the richer;
   others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
²⁵ A generous person will be enriched,
   and one who gives water will get water.
²⁶ The people curse those who hold back grain,
   but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favour,
   but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will wither,^*
   but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
²⁹ Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
   and the fool will be servant to the wise.
³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
   but violence^* takes lives away.
³¹ If the righteous are repaid on earth,
   how much more the wicked and the sinner!