Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness 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 profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth 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 suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

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

4 He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

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

5 He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son: [but] he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame.

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

6 Blessings [are] upon the head of the just: but violence 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] blessed: but 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 in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

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

9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

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

10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

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 a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

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: but love 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 him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding.

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 foolish [is] near destruction.

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

15 The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city: the destruction 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 labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

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

17 He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

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 He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool.

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 wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] 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: the heart of the wicked [is] little 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 righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

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, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with 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 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

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

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

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 the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no [more: ] but the righteous [is] 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 as smoke to the eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send 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 prolongeth days: but 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 hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation 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 way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.

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

30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit 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 bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

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 righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.

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