A Collection of Solomon’s Proverbs
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son, heartache to his mother. s
2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,
but righteousness rescues from death. t
3 The LORD will not let the righteous go hungry, u
but he denies the wicked what they crave. v
but diligent hands bring riches. w
5 The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful. x
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. y
7 The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot. z
8 A wise heart accepts commands, a
but foolish lips will be destroyed.
9 The one who lives with integrity lives securely, b
but whoever perverts his ways will be found out. c
10 A sly wink of the eye d causes grief,
and foolish lips will be destroyed.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, e
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. f
12 Hatred stirs up conflicts,
but love covers all offenses. g
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense. h
14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction. i
15 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; j
the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
16 The reward of the righteous is life;
the wages of the wicked is punishment. k
17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray. l
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool. m
19 When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is prudent. n
20 The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little value. o
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense. p
22 The LORD’S blessing enriches, q
and he adds no painful effort to it. D,r
23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, s
so wisdom is for a person of understanding.
24 What the wicked dreads will come to him, t
but what the righteous desire will be given to them. u
the wicked are no more, v
but the righteous are secure forever. w
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, x
so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, E,y
but the years of the wicked are cut short. z
28 The hope of the righteous is joy, a
but the expectation of the wicked will perish. b
29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold for the honorable,
but destruction awaits the malicious. c
30 The righteous will never be shaken,
but the wicked will not remain on the earth. d
31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, e
but a perverse tongue will be cut out. f
32 The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate, g
but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse. h