Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son

1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

3Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

4He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

9He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.

11The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

14Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

17He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

22Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

24What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.

26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.

29The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.