Proverbs 10

1  THE PROVERBS of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish and self-confident son is the grief of his mother.2  Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) delivers from death.3  The Lord will not allow the [uncompromisingly] righteous to famish, but He thwarts the desire of the wicked. 4  He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.5  He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.6  Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.7  The memory of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8  The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong.9  He who walks uprightly walks securely, but he who takes a crooked way shall be found out and punished.10  He who winks with the eye [craftily and with malice] causes sorrow; the foolish of lips will fall headlong but he who boldly reproves makes peace .11  The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.12  Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions.13  On the lips of him who has discernment skillful and godly Wisdom is found, but discipline and the rod are for the back of him who is without sense and understanding.14  Wise men store up knowledge [in mind and heart], but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.15  The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 16  The earnings of the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) lead to life, but the profit of the wicked leads to further sin. 17  He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.18  He who hides hatred is of lying lips, and he who utters slander is a [self-confident] fool. 19  In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.20  The tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver; the minds of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God are of little value.21  The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous feed and guide many, but fools die for want of understanding and heart.22  The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].23  It is as sport to a [self-confident] fool to do wickedness, but to have skillful and godly Wisdom is pleasure and relaxation to a man of understanding.24  The thing a wicked man fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be granted.25  When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous have an everlasting foundation. 26  As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who employ and send him.27  The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one’s days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.28  The hope of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked (those who are out of harmony with God) comes to nothing.29  The way of the Lord is strength and a stronghold to the upright, but it is destruction to the workers of iniquity.30  The [consistently] righteous shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth [eventually]. 31  The mouths of the righteous (those harmonious with God) bring forth skillful and godly Wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut down [like a barren and rotten tree].32  The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous know [and therefore utter] what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked knows [and therefore speaks only] what is obstinately willful and contrary.

Proverbs 10

The Wise Sayings of Solomon

1 An Honest Life Is Immortal Wise son, glad father; stupid son, sad mother.
2 Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere; an honest life is immortal.
3 God won't starve an honest soul, but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.
4 Sloth makes you poor; diligence brings wealth.
5 Make hay while the sun shines—that's smart; go fishing during harvest—that's stupid.
6 Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
7 A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.
8 A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.
9 Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.
10 An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead, but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.
11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
12 Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
13 You'll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight, but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.
14 The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure; know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.

The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life

15 The wealth of the rich is their bastion; the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.
16 The wage of a good person is exuberant life; an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.
17 The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.
18 Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander.
19 The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.
20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless.
21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many, but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.

Fear-of-God Expands Your Life

22 God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.
23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
24 The nightmares of the wicked come true; what the good people desire, they get.
25 When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.
26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
27 The Fear-of-God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life.
28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash.
29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance.
30 Good people last—they can't be moved; the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.
32 The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.