Proverbs 10

A wise son brings joy

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.a ²Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.b ³The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.c

⁴Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.d ⁵A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace. ⁶The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

⁷We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.e ⁸The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. ⁹People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.f

¹⁰People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace. ¹¹The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.g ¹²Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.h

¹³Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod. ¹⁴Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster. ¹⁵The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

¹⁶The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin. ¹⁷People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.i ¹⁸Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.

¹⁹Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.j ²⁰The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. ²¹The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

²²The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.k ²³Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. ²⁴The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.l

²⁵When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. ²⁶Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes. ²⁷Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.m

²⁸The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. ²⁹The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.n ³⁰The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.o

³¹The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. ³²The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.