Solomon's Proverbs
1 These are Solomon's proverbs:
Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief.
2 Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life.
3 The Lord will not let good people go hungry, but he will keep the wicked from getting what they want.
4 Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich.
5 A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest.
6 Good people will receive blessings. The words of the wicked hide a violent nature.
7 Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but the wicked will soon be forgotten.
8 Sensible people accept good advice. People who talk foolishly will come to ruin.
9 Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught.
10 Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace.
11 A good person's words are a fountain of life, but a wicked person's words hide a violent nature.
12 Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.
13 Intelligent people talk sense, but stupid people need to be punished.
14 The wise get all the knowledge they can, but when fools speak, trouble is not far off.
15 Wealth protects the rich; poverty destroys the poor.
16 The reward for doing good is life, but sin leads only to more sin.
17 People who listen when they are corrected will live, but those who will not admit that they are wrong are in danger.
18 Anyone who hides hatred is a liar. Anyone who spreads gossip is a fool.
19 The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.
20 A good person's words are like pure silver; a wicked person's ideas are worthless.
21 A good person's words will benefit many people, but you can kill yourself with stupidity.
22 It is the Lord's blessing that makes you wealthy. Hard work can make you no richer.
23 It is foolish to enjoy doing wrong. Intelligent people take pleasure in wisdom.
24 The righteous get what they want, but the wicked will get what they fear most.
25 Storms come, and the wicked are blown away, but honest people are always safe.
26 Never get a lazy person to do something for you; he will be as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.
27 Obey the Lord, and you will live longer. The wicked die before their time.
28 The hopes of good people lead to joy, but wicked people can look forward to nothing.
29 The Lord protects honest people, but destroys those who do wrong.
30 Righteous people will always have security, but the wicked will not survive in the land.
31 Righteous people speak wisdom, but the tongue that speaks evil will be stopped.
32 Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.