1 T he Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

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

2 T reasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death.

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

3 J ehovah suffereth not the soul of the righteous to famish; but he repelleth the craving of the wicked.

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

4 H e cometh to want that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

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

5 H e that gathereth in summer is a wise son; he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

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

6 B lessings are upon the head of a righteous; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.

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

7 T he memory of the righteous shall be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked shall rot.

8 T he wise in heart receiveth commandments; but a prating fool shall fall.

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

9 H e that walketh in integrity walketh securely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

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

10 H e that winketh with the eye causeth grief, and a prating fool shall fall.

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

11 T he mouth of a righteous is a fountain of life; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.

The mouth of the righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 H atred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all transgressions.

Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions.

13 I n the lips of an intelligent wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

On 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.

14 T he wise lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the fool is near destruction.

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.

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

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

16 T he labour of a righteous to life; the revenue of a wicked, to sin.

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

17 K eeping instruction is the path to life; but he that forsaketh reproof goeth astray.

He 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.

18 H e that covereth hatred hath lying lips, and he that sendeth forth a slander is a fool.

He who hides hatred is of lying lips, and he who utters slander is a fool.

19 I n the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.

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

20 T he tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth.

The 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.

21 T he lips of a righteous feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.

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

22 T he blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it.

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

23 I t is as sport to a foolish to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

It 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.

24 T he fear of a wicked, it shall come upon him; but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

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

25 A s a whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous have an everlasting foundation.

26 A s vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

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

27 T he fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one’s days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.

28 T he hope of the righteous is joy; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

The 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.

29 T he way of Jehovah is strength to the perfect, but destruction to the workers of iniquity.

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

30 T he righteous shall never be moved; but the wicked shall not inhabit the land.

The righteous shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 T he mouth of a righteous putteth forth wisdom; but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

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

32 T he lips of a righteous know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked is frowardness.

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