Proverbs 10:1-29

The First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs

10:1 The Proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child makes a father rejoice,

but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.

10:2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.

10:3 The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

10:4 The one who is lazy becomes poor,

but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.

10:5 The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son,

but the one who sleeps during the harvest

is a son who brings shame to himself.

10:6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.

10:7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

but the reputation of the wicked will rot.

10:8 The wise person accepts instructions,

but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

10:9 The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely,

but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.

10:10 The one who winks his eye causes trouble,

and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

10:11 The teaching of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.

10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension,

but love covers all transgressions.

10:13 Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person,

but the one who lacks wisdom will be disciplined.

10:14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,

but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

10:15 The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city,

but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.

10:16 The reward which the righteous receive is life;

the recompense which the wicked receive is judgment.

10:17 The one who heeds instruction is on the way to life,

but the one who rejects rebuke goes astray.

10:18 The one who conceals hatred utters lies,

and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.

10:19 When words abound, transgression is inevitable,

but the one who restrains his words is wise.

10:20 What the righteous say is like the best silver,

but what the wicked think is of little value.

10:21 The teaching of the righteous feeds many,

but fools die for lack of wisdom.

10:22 The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich,

and he adds no sorrow to it.

10:23 Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool,

and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

10:24 What the wicked fears will come on him;

what the righteous desire will be granted.

10:25 When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away,

but the righteous are an everlasting foundation.

10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him.

10:27 Fearing the Lord prolongs life,

but the life span of the wicked will be shortened.

10:28 The hope of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled.

10:29 The way of the Lord is like a stronghold for the upright,

but it is destruction to evildoers.