Proverbs 10
1 Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother.
Solomon's proverbs. A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid son only brings his mother grief.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death.
Wealth gained through evil does you no good; but living right saves you from death.
3 Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away.
The Lord doesn't let good people go hungry, but he stops the wicked from getting what they want.
4 Poor [is] he who is working — a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Lazy hands make you poor, but hard-working hands make you rich.
5 Whoso is gathering in summer [is] a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest [is] a son causing shame.
A son who gathers crops during the summer is sensible, but the one who sleeps during harvest brings disgrace.
6 Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.
Those who are good are blessed, but what the wicked say hides their violent nature.
7 The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.
The good are remembered as a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.
Those who think wisely pay attention to instruction, but a stupid chatterbox ends up in disaster.
9 Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.
Honest people will live in safety, but those who behave deceitfully will be caught out.
10 Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh.
People who wink slyly cause trouble, but someone who gives a strong rebuke brings peace.
11 A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.
What good people say is a spring that gives life, but what the wicked say hides their violent nature.
12 Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.
Hatred causes conflict, but love covers all wrongs.
13 In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.
Wisdom comes from people with good judgment, but stupid people are punished with a rod.
14 The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool [is] near ruin.
Wise people accumulate knowledge, but the chattering of stupid people is a prelude to disaster.
15 The wealth of the rich [is] his strong city, The ruin of the poor [is] their poverty.
The wealth of the rich provides them protection, while the poverty of the poor ruins them.
16 The wage of the righteous [is] for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.
If you do right you're rewarded with life, but if you're wicked all you gain is sin.
17 A traveller to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.
If you accept instruction, you're on the path to life, but if you reject correction you'll go astray.
18 Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.
Anyone who hides their hatred is lying, and anyone who spreads slander is stupid.
19 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips [is] wise.
If you talk too much, you'll say something wrong. Be wise and take care what you say.
20 The tongue of the righteous [is] chosen silver, The heart of the wicked — as a little thing.
What good people say is like the best silver, but the mind of the wicked isn't worth much.
21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.
Advice from good people helps feed many others, but stupid people die because they have no sense.
22 The blessing of Jehovah — it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.
The Lord's blessing makes you rich, and he doesn't add any sadness to accompany it.
23 To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
Stupid people think it's fun to do wrong, but someone who has wisdom understands what's right.
24 The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given.
What the wicked fear will happen to them, while what good people hope for will be granted.
25 As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.
When the storm hits, the wicked are no more, but the good are safe and secure forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So [is] the slothful to those sending him.
In the same way vinegar irritates the teeth and smoke irritates the eyes, lazy people irritate their employers.
27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.
Honoring the Lord makes your life longer, but the years the wicked live will be cut short.
28 The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.
Good people look forward to happiness, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of Jehovah [is] strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.
The way of the Lord protects those who do right, but he destroys those who do evil.
30 The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.
The good will never be removed from the land, but the wicked will not remain there.
31 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.
What good people say produces wisdom, but liars will have their tongues cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!
Good people know the right thing to say, but the wicked always lie.
