Add parallel Print Page Options

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise child makes a father glad,
    but a foolish child brings sorrow to his mother.
The treasure of the wicked won’t profit them,
    but righteousness rescues people from death.
The Lord doesn’t let the righteous starve,
    but he rejects the desires of the wicked.
Laziness brings poverty;
    hard work makes one rich.
A wise son harvests in the summer;
    a disgraceful son sleeps right through the harvest.
Blessings cover the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked rots.
The skilled mind accepts commands,
    but a foolish talker is ruined.
Those who walk in innocence walk with confidence,
    but those on crooked paths will be found out.
10 Those who wink an eye bring trouble;
    those who speak foolishly are ruined.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hate stirs up conflict,
    but love covers all offenses.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of those who have understanding,
    but there is a rod for the back of those with no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings on ruin.
15 The riches of the wealthy are their strong city;
    the ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The wages of the righteous lead to life;
    the earnings of the wicked lead to sin.
17 Those who heed instruction are on the way to life,
    but those who ignore correction lose their way.
18 Lying lips conceal hate,
    and those who spread slander are fools.
19 With lots of words comes wrongdoing,
    but the wise restrain their lips.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked lacks value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many people,
    but fools who lack sense will die.
22 The Lord’s blessing makes a person rich,
    and no trouble is added to it.
23 Fools enjoy vile deeds,
    but those with understanding take pleasure in wisdom.
24 What the wicked dread will come on them,
    but what the righteous desire will be given to them.
25 After a whirlwind passes by, the wicked are no more,
    but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so are lazy people to those who authorize them.
27 The fear of the Lord increases one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
28 The expectations of the righteous result in joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked will perish.
29 The path of the Lord is a refuge for the innocent
    and ruin for those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be shaken,
    but the wicked won’t dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
    but the twisted tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the wise know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked knows only what is perverse.

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but delights in an accurate weight.
When pride comes, so does shame,
    but wisdom brings humility.
Integrity guides the virtuous,
    but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
Riches don’t help in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness rescues from death.
The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
    but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
    but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
When the wicked die, their hope perishes.
    Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
The righteous are saved from distress,
    and the wicked take their place.
The godless destroy their neighbors by their words,
    but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
10 When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous;
    it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
12 Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense;
    a sensible person keeps quiet.
13 A slanderer walks around revealing secrets,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
    but there is victory with many counselors.
15 Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble,
    but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.
16 A gracious woman gains honor;
    violent men gain only wealth.
17 Kind persons benefit themselves,
    but cruel people harm themselves.
18 The wicked earn false wages,
    but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
19 The righteous are headed toward life,
    but those who pursue evil, toward death.
20 The Lord detests a crooked heart,
    but he favors those whose path is innocent.
21 The evil person will surely not go unpunished,
    but the children of the righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose
    is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desires of the righteous end up well,
    but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.
24 Those who give generously receive more,
    but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
25 Generous persons will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard grain,
    but they bless those[a] who sell it.
27 Those who look for good find favor,
    but those who seek evil—it will come to them.
28 Those who trust in their wealth will wither,
    but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
29 Those who trouble their family will inherit the wind.
    The fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the wise gather lives.[b]
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the wicked and sinners?

12 Those who love discipline love knowledge,
    and those who hate correction are stupid.
The Lord favors good people,
    but he condemns schemers.
No one is established by wicked acts,
    but the roots of the righteous can’t be disturbed.
A strong woman is a crown to her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like rot in his bones.
The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.
The words of the wicked are a deathtrap,
    but the speech of those who do right rescues them.
The wicked are destroyed and are no more,
    but the family of the righteous will endure.
A person is praised for his insight,
    but a warped mind leads to contempt.
Better to be held in low regard and have a servant
    than to be conceited and lack food.
10 The righteous care about their livestock’s needs,
    but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have plenty to eat,
    but those who engage in empty pursuits have no sense.
12 Desiring evil is a trap for the wicked,
    but the root of the righteous endures.[c]
13 The wicked are trapped by the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.
14 From the fruit of their speech, people are well satisfied;
    their work results in reward.
15 Fools see their own way as right,
    but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools reveal their anger right away,
    but the shrewd hide their contempt.
17 Those who state the truth speak justly,
    but a false witness deceives.
18 Some chatter on like a stabbing sword,
    but a wise tongue heals.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil,
    but there is joy for those who advise peace.
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked receive their fill of trouble.
22 The Lord detests false lips;
    he favors those who do what is true.
23 The shrewd conceal their knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims their stupidity.
24 A hard worker is in charge,
    while a lazy one will be sentenced to hard labor.
25 Anxiety leads to depression,
    but a good word encourages.
26 The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors,[d]
    but the path of the wicked makes them wander.
27 The lazy don’t roast[e] their prey,
    but hard workers receive precious riches.
28 The way of the righteous leads to life,
    but the detestable[f] path leads to death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those
  2. Proverbs 11:30 Or LXX, Syr violence takes lives away
  3. Proverbs 12:12 Or gives
  4. Proverbs 12:26 Heb uncertain
  5. Proverbs 12:27 Heb uncertain
  6. Proverbs 12:28 LXX; MT the path of the trail

Bible Gateway Recommends