Proverbs 10

1 A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of 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 of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice 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 afflict the soul of the just with famine, and he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked.

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

4 The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds that fly away.

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

5 He that gathered in the harvest is a wise son: but he that snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion.

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 iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked.

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 with praises: and the name of the wicked shall rot.

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 The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.

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

9 He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be manifest.

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

10 He that winketh with the eye shall cause sorrow: and the foolish in lips shall be beaten.

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 The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the wicked covereth iniquity.

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 stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins.

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

13 In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back of him that wanteth sense.

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

14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion.

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

15 The substance of a rich man is the city of his strength: the fear of the poor is their poverty.

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 work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked, unto sin.

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

17 The way of life, to him that observeth correction: but he that forsaketh reproofs goeth 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 Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth reproach is foolish.

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

19 In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that refraineth his lips is most wise.

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 as choice silver: but the heart of the wicked is nothing worth.

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

21 The lips of the just teach many: but they that are ignorant, shall die in the want of understanding.

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 maketh men rich: neither shall affliction be joined to them.

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 worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man.

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

24 That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him: to the just their desire shall be given.

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 As a tempest that passeth, so the wicked shall be no more: but the just is as an everlasting foundation.

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

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that sent him.

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 shall prolong days: and the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

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

28 The expectation of the just is joy; but the hope of the wicked 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 strength of the upright is the way of the Lord: and fear to them that work evil.

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

30 The just shall never be moved: but the wicked shall not dwell on 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 just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the perverse 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 the just consider what is acceptable: and the mouth of the wicked uttereth perverse things.

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