Proverbs 10

1 A wise son makes [his] father glad: but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

These [are more] proverbs/wise sayings from Solomon: If children are wise, they cause their parents to be happy; but if children are foolish, they cause their parents to be very sad.

2 Treasures shall not profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death.

Money that you get by doing dishonest/wicked things will really not benefit you; but by living righteously you will live for (a long time/many years).

3 The Lord will not famish a righteous soul: but he will overthrow the life of the ungodly.

Yahweh does not allow righteous [people] to starve, but he will prevent wicked [people] from getting what they want.

4 Poverty brings a man low: but the hands of the vigourous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.

Lazy people [soon] become poor; it is those who work hard who become rich.

5 A wise son is saved from heat: but a lawless son is blighted of the winds in harvest.

Those who are wise, harvest the crops when they are ripe; it is shameful/disgraceful to sleep [and not work] during harvest time.

6 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but untimely grief shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

Righteous [people will] be blessed [by God]; [the nice things] that wicked [people] say [MTY] [sometimes] conceal the fact that they [are planning to] act violently.

7 The memory of the just is praised; but the name of the ungodly [man] is extinguished.

After righteous [people die], other people are blessed as they remember [what those people did before they died]; but we will soon forget wicked people [MTY] after they die.

8 A wise man in heart will receive commandments; but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness.

Wise people heed good instruction/advice, but people who talk foolishly will ruin themselves.

9 He that walks simply, walks confidently; but he that perverts his ways shall be known.

Honest people will be safe, but [others] (OR, God) will find out those who are dishonest.

10 He that winks with his eyes deceitfully, procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker.

Those who signal with their eyes [that they are about to do something that is wrong] cause trouble, but those who rebuke others truthfully cause them to be peaceful.

11 [There is] a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

What righteous [people] say [MTY] is [like] a fountain that (gives life/enables people to live many years) [MET], but what wicked [people] say [MTY] hides [the fact] that they intend to act violently.

12 Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife.

When we hate others, it causes quarrels, but if we love others, we forgive them [for the wrong things that they do].

13 He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the fool with a rod.

Those who have good sense say [MTY] what is wise, but people who do not have good sense must be punished.

14 The wise will hide discretion; but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin.

Wise people continue to learn all that they can, but when foolish people speak, they soon cause trouble.

15 The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly.

The wealth that rich people have [protects them like a city is protected by a] strong wall around it [MET], but people who are poor suffer much [because they have no one to help them].

16 The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly [produce] sins.

If you are righteous, your reward will be a good life, [but] all that sinful people gain is to sin more.

17 Instruction keeps the right ways of life; but instruction unchastened goes astray.

Those who pay attention when others try to (correct them/teach them what they are doing that is wrong) will live (happily/for many years); but those who reject being rebuked will not find the road to life (OR, cause others to go astray).

18 Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish.

Those who will not admit that they hate [others] are liars, and those who slander [others] are foolish.

19 By a multitude of words you shall not escape sin; but if you refrain your lips you will be prudent.

When people talk a lot, that will lead them to sin a lot [by what they say]; if you are wise, you will refuse to say very much.

20 The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail.

What righteous/good [people] say [MTY] is [as valuable as] pure silver [MET]; what wicked [people] think is worthless.

21 The lips of the righteous know sublime [truths]: but the foolish die in lack.

What righteous [people] say [MTY] benefits many [people], but foolish people die because of the stupid [things that they do].

22 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous; it enriches [him], and grief of heart shall not be added to [it].

Yahweh blesses [some people] by enabling them to become rich, and working hard will not make them to become richer (OR, and he will not also cause them to become sad).

23 A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.

Foolish people (have fun/enjoy) doing what is wrong, but wise/sensible people enjoy doing what is wise.

24 The ungodly is engulfed in destruction; but the desire of the righteous is acceptable.

Righteous [people] will get the good things that they want/desire, but what wicked [people] are afraid of is what will happen to them.

25 When the storm passes by, the ungodly vanishes away; but the righteous turns aside and escapes for ever.

When storms come, the wicked will (be blown away/never be safe), but righteous [people will] be safe forever.

26 As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practise it.

We do not like a lazy person who refuses to do the job that he is given to do, [just] like we do not like vinegar in our mouths or smoke in our eyes.

27 The fear of the Lord adds [length] of days: but the years of the ungodly shall be shortened.

If you revere Yahweh, you will live for a long time; but wicked [people] die before they become old.

28 Joy rests long with the righteous: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

Righteous [people] confidently expect [that good things will happen to them], and that causes them to be happy/joyful; but when wicked [people] confidently expect something good to happen, it does not happen.

29 The fear of the Lord is a strong hold of the saints: but ruin [comes] to them that work wickedness.

Yahweh protects [MET] those who live righteously, but he destroys those who do what is evil.

30 The righteous shall never fail: but the ungodly shall not dwell in the earth.

Righteous [people] will always be secure [LIT], but wicked people will be removed from their land (OR, from this earth).

31 The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.

Righteous people [MTY] say things that are wise, but [God] will shut the mouths of people [MTY] who say what is not true.

32 The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.

Righteous people [MTY] know what to say that is acceptable, but wicked [people] [MTY] are [constantly] saying things that are not true.