CHAPTER 10

¹The proverbs of Solomon.

                A wise son gladdens his father,

                    but a foolish son is his mother’s sorrow.

                ²The treasures of wickedness will not avail,

                    but righteousness saves from death.

                ³The LORD will not make the righteous man hunger,

                    but He rebuffs the desire of the wicked.

                ⁴A deceitful palm brings privation,

                    but the diligent hand enriches.

                ⁵A clever son stores up in the summer,

                    a disgraceful son slumbers at harvesttime.

                ⁶Blessings on the righteous man’s head,

                    but outrage will cover the mouth of the wicked.

                ⁷The memory of the righteous is for a blessing,

                    but the name of the wicked will rot.

                ⁸The wise of heart takes commands,

                    but who speaks stupidly comes to grief.

                ⁹Who walks in innocence walks secure,

                    but who walks crooked ways is exposed.

                ¹⁰Who winks with his eye gives pain,

                    and who speaks stupidly comes to grief.

                ¹¹The righteous man’s mouth is a wellspring of life,

                    but outrage will cover the mouth of the wicked.

                ¹²Hatred foments strife,

                    but love covers up all misdeeds.

                ¹³On the discerning man’s lips wisdom is found,

                    but a rod for the back of the senseless!

                ¹⁴Wise men lay up knowledge,

                    but the dolt’s mouth is impending disaster.

                ¹⁵The rich man’s wealth is his fortress city,

                    the disaster of the poor, their privation.

                ¹⁶The effort of the righteous is for life,

                    the wicked’s yield is for offense.

                ¹⁷A path for life who observes reproof,

                    but who forsakes rebuke leads astray.

                ¹⁸Who covers up hatred has lying lips,

                    he who slanders is a fool.

                ¹⁹Through much talk misdeed will not cease,

                    but the shrewd man holds his tongue.

                ²⁰Choice silver—a righteous man’s tongue,

                    but the heart of the wicked is worthless.

                ²¹The righteous man’s lips guide the many,

                    but dolts die for lack of sense.

                ²²The LORD’s blessing will enrich,

                    and one increases no pain through it.

                ²³As doing foul things is sport for the fool,

                    so is wisdom for the man of discernment.

                ²⁴What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

                    and the desire of the righteous is granted.

                ²⁵When the storm passes, the wicked is gone,

                    but the righteous is a lasting foundation.

                ²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

                    thus the sluggard to those who send him.

                ²⁷Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s days,

                    but the years of the wicked are short.

                ²⁸The longing of the righteous is a joy,

                    but the hope of the wicked will perish.

                ²⁹A stronghold for the blameless is the LORD’s way,

                    but disaster for the workers of crime.

                ³⁰The righteous man never stumbles,

                    but the wicked will not dwell on earth.

                ³¹The mouth of the righteous puts forth wisdom,

                    but a perverse tongue will be cut off.

                ³²The lips of the righteous will know to please,

                    and the mouth of the wicked—perverseness.