Proverbs of Solomon

1The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

but righteousness delivers from death.

3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4A slack hand causes poverty,

but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5A son who gathers in summer is prudent,

but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot.

8The wise of heart will heed commandments,

but a prating fool will come to ruin.

9He who walks in integrity walks securely,

but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10He who winks the eye causes trouble,

but he who boldly reproves makes peace.10.10 Gk: Heb but a prating fool will come to ruin

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

1210.12: Jas 5.20; 1 Pet 4.8.Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offences.

13On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

14Wise men lay up knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

15A rich man's wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16The wage of the righteous leads to life,

the gain of the wicked to sin.

17He who heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who rejects reproof goes astray.

18He who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and he who utters slander is a fool.

19When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the mind of the wicked is of little worth.

21The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

22The blessing of the LORD makes rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it.10.22 Or and toil adds nothing to it

23It is like sport to a fool to do wrong,

but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding.

24What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,

but the righteous is established for ever.

26Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27The fear of the LORD prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

28The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,

but the expectation of the wicked comes to naught.

29The LORD is a stronghold to him whose way is upright,

but destruction to evildoers.

30The righteous will never be removed,

but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.