Proverbs 10

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes his father happy.

But a foolish child causes his mother to be sad.

2 If you are not honest, your money will not help you.

But if you are righteous, it will save you from death.

3 The Lord will not let righteous people be hungry.

But he will not let bad people get what they want.

4 If a man is lazy, he will soon be poor.

But if he works hard, he will become rich.

5 A wise man cuts his crops at harvest time and he stores them.

But anyone who does no work at harvest time brings shame.

6 God blesses righteous people.

But the words of wicked people hide their anger.

7 It is a pleasure to remember righteous people.

But when wicked people die, people soon forget their name.

8 Wise people accept good teaching.

But people who talk in a foolish way destroy themselves.

9 If people are honest, their lives are safe.

But those who are not honest will receive punishment.

10 Someone who deceives his friends causes trouble.

And someone who speaks in foolish ways will destroy himself.

11 The teaching of righteous people gives life, like a spring of water.

But the words of wicked people hide their anger.

12 When people hate others, it causes arguments.

But love covers over all sins.

13 People who understand what is right speak wise words.

But silly people receive the punishment that they deserve.

14 Wise people store knowledge in their minds.

But when foolish people speak, trouble is near.

15 Money keeps rich people safe, like a strong city.

But poor people die because they have no one to help them.

16 Righteous people receive life as their wages.

Wicked people receive only punishment.

17 People who listen when people warn them are on the road to life.

But those who refuse to listen are on a different road.

18 If you hate somebody but you try to hide it, you are telling lies.

And if you say false things about other people, you are a fool.

19 If you talk too much, you will soon do something wrong.

But if you are wise, you will stop talking.

20 The words of righteous people are as valuable as the best silver.

But the thoughts of wicked people are useless.

21 The teaching of righteous people will help many people.

But foolish people die because they are so stupid.

22 If the Lord blesses you, you are really rich.

Hard work will not make you any richer.

23 A foolish person is happy when he does wicked things.

But a wise person enjoys doing things that are right.

24 The trouble that wicked people are afraid of will certainly happen to them.

But righteous people will receive the things that they want.

25 When the storm has finished, wicked people are no longer there.

But righteous people are still standing safely.

26 Do not send a lazy person with a message.

He will bring you pain, like the taste of bitter wine,

or like smoke in your eyes.

27 If you respect and obey the Lord, you will live longer.

But wicked people will die before they are old.

28 What good people hope to receive causes them to be happy.

But wicked people never receive what they hope for.

29 The Lord keeps honest people safe.

But he punishes people who do wrong things.

30 Righteous people will always have a safe place to live.

But wicked people will not continue to live in the land.

31 Righteous people speak wise words.

But those who speak evil things will lose their tongues!

32 Righteous people say kind things.

But wicked people say things that hurt others.