Proverbs 10

1 The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise son, maketh a glad father, but, a foolish son, is the grief 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 The treasures of lawlessness, do not profit, 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 Yahweh, suffereth not to famish, the soul of the righteous, but, the desire of the lawless, he thrusteth away.

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

4 He becometh poor, who 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 prudent son, he that sleepeth long in harvest, is a son causing 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 for the head of the righteous man, but, the mouth of the lawless, covereth up wrong.

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 righteous, yieldeth blessing, but, the name of the lawless, dieth out.

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 accept commandments, but, he that is foolish with his lips, shall be thrust away.

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

9 He that walketh uprightly, may walk securely, but, he that maketh crooked his ways, shall be found out.

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, and, he that is foolish with his lips, shall be thrust aside.

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 A well-spring of life, is the mouth of the righteous, but, the mouth of the lawless, covereth wrong.

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, over all transgressions, love throweth a covering.

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 intelligent, is found wisdom, but, a rod, is for the back of him that lacketh 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, treasure up knowledge, but, the mouth of the foolish, is a terror near at hand.

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

15 The substance of the rich, is his strong city, the terror 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, [leadeth] to life, the increase of the lawless, to sin.

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

17 On the way to life, is he that heedeth correction, but, he that hateth reproof, is going 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 He that concealeth hatred, hath false lips, and he that sendeth forth slander, the same, is a dullard.

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 transgression, but, he that restraineth his lips, sheweth prudence.

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 Choice silver, is the tongue of the righteous, but, the sense of the lawless, is very small.

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 multitudes, but, the foolish, for lack of sense, shall die.

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

22 The blessing of Yahweh, itself maketh rich, and he addeth no grievance therewith.

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, mere sport to a stupid man, to commit lewdness, but, wisdom, pertaineth to a man of understanding.

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

24 The dread of the lawless one, the same, shall overtake him, but, the desire of the righteous, shall he 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 Like the passing away of a tempest, so the lawless one is not, but, the righteous, [hath] an age-abiding 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 who 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 reverence of Yahweh, addeth days, but, the years of the lawless, 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 lawless, shall vanish.

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 A refuge for the blameless, is the path of Yahweh, but, destruction, [awaiteth] the workers of iniquity.

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

30 The righteous, to times age-abiding, shall remain unshaken, but, the lawless, 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 righteous, beareth the fruit of wisdom, but, a perverse tongue, shall be cut off.

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 pleasing, but, the mouth of the lawless, [speaketh] perversities.

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