Solomon's wise sayings

1Here are some proverbs

of Solomon:

Children with good sense

make their parents happy,

but foolish children

make them sad.

2What you gain by doing evil

won't help you at all,

but being good10.2 good: Or “generous”.

can save you from death.

3If you obey the LORD,

you won't go hungry;

if you are wicked,

God won't let you have

what you want.

4Laziness leads to poverty;

hard work makes you rich.

5At harvest season

it's clever to work hard,

but stupid to sleep.

6Everyone praises good people,

but evil hides behind

the words of the wicked.

7Good people are remembered

long after they are gone,

but the wicked

are soon forgotten.

8If you have good sense,

you will listen and obey;

if all you do is talk,

you will destroy yourself.

9You will be safe,

if you always do right,

but you will get caught,

if you are dishonest.

10Deceit causes trouble,

and foolish talk

will bring you to ruin.10.10 and foolish…ruin: One ancient translation “but you can help people by correcting them.”

11The words of good people

are a source of life,

but evil hides behind

the words of the wicked.

12Hatred stirs up trouble;10.12: Jas 5.20; 1 P 4.8.

love overlooks the wrongs

that others do.

13If you have good sense,

it will show when you speak.

But if you are stupid,

you will be beaten

with a stick.

14If you have good sense,

you will learn all you can,

but foolish talk

will soon destroy you.

15Great wealth can be a fortress,

but poverty

is no protection at all.

16If you live right,

the reward is a good life;

if you are evil,

all you have is sin.

17Accept correction,

and you will find life;

reject correction,

and you will miss the road.

18You can hide your hatred

by telling lies,

but you are a fool

to spread lies.

19You will say the wrong thing

if you talk too much—

so be sensible and watch

what you say.

20The words of a good person

are like pure silver,

but the thoughts

of an evil person

are almost worthless.

21Many are helped

by useful instruction,

but fools are killed

by their own stupidity.

22When the LORD blesses you

with riches,

you have nothing to regret.10.22 When…regret: Or “No matter how hard you work, your riches really come from the Lord.”

23Fools enjoy doing wrong,

but anyone with good sense

enjoys acting wisely.

24What evil people dread most

will happen to them,

but good people will get

what they want most.

25Those crooks will disappear

when a storm strikes,

but God will keep safe

all who obey him.

26Having a lazy person on the job

is like a mouth full of vinegar

or smoke in your eyes.

27If you respect the LORD,

you will live longer;

if you keep doing wrong,

your life will be cut short.

28If you obey the Lord,

you will be happy,

but there is no future

for the wicked.

29The LORD protects everyone

who lives right,

but he destroys anyone

who does wrong.

30Good people will stand firm,

but the wicked

will lose their land.

31Honest people speak sensibly,

but deceitful liars

will be silenced.

32If you obey the Lord,

you will always know

the right thing to say.

But no one will trust you

if you tell lies.