1 T he proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish and self-confident son is the grief of his mother.

Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son an affliction to his mother.

2 T reasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) delivers from death.

Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death.

3 T he Lord will not allow the righteous to famish, but He thwarts the desire of the wicked.

Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away.

4 H e becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Poor he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5 H e who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Whoso is gathering in summer a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest a son causing shame.

6 B lessings are upon the head of the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Blessings for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

7 T he memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked shall rot.

The remembrance of the righteous for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.

8 T he wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong.

The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.

9 H e who walks uprightly walks securely, but he who takes a crooked way shall be found out and punished.

Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.

10 H e who winks with the eye causes sorrow; the foolish of lips will fall headlong but he who boldly reproves makes peace.

Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh.

11 T he mouth of the righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

A fountain of life the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

12 H atred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions.

Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.

13 O n the lips of him who has discernment skillful and godly Wisdom is found, but discipline and the rod are for the back of him who is without sense and understanding.

In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod for the back of him who is lacking understanding.

14 W ise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.

The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool near ruin.

15 T he rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

The wealth of the rich his strong city, The ruin of the poor their poverty.

16 T he earnings of the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) lead to life, but the profit of the wicked leads to further sin.

The wage of the righteous for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.

17 H e who heeds instruction and correction is in the way of life is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof goes astray causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.

A traveller to life he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.

18 H e who hides hatred is of lying lips, and he who utters slander is a fool.

Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

19 I n a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips wise.

20 T he tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver; the minds of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God are of little value.

The tongue of the righteous chosen silver, The heart of the wicked -- as a little thing.

21 T he lips of the righteous feed and guide many, but fools die for want of understanding and heart.

The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.

22 T he blessing of the Lord—it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

The blessing of Jehovah -- it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.

23 I t is as sport to a fool to do wickedness, but to have skillful and godly Wisdom is pleasure and relaxation to a man of understanding.

To execute inventions as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.

24 T he thing a wicked man fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given.

25 W hen the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous have an everlasting foundation.

As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.

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

As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So the slothful to those sending him.

27 T he reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one’s days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.

The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.

28 T he hope of the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked (those who are out of harmony with God) comes to nothing.

The hope of the righteous joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.

29 T he way of the Lord is strength and a stronghold to the upright, but it is destruction to the workers of iniquity.

The way of Jehovah strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.

30 T he righteous shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.

31 T he mouths of the righteous (those harmonious with God) bring forth skillful and godly Wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut down.

The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.

32 T he lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked knows what is obstinately willful and contrary.

The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!