Solomon’s Proverbs: The Wise Son

1The proverbs of Solomon (peace):

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son grief to his mother.

2Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,

but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

3The LORD {YHWH} does not let the righteous go hungry,

but He denies the craving of the wicked.

4Idle hands make one poor,

but diligent hands bring wealth.

5He who gathers in summer is a wise son,

but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence (but violence covers the mouth of the wicked).a

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot.

8A wise heart will receive commandments,

but foolish lips will come to ruin.

9He who walks in integrity walks securely,

but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10He who winks the eye causes grief,

and foolish lips will come to ruin (babbling fools will fall).b

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12Hatred stirs up dissension,

but love covers all transgressions <1Pe 4:8>.c

13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

14The wise store up knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city,

but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16The labor of the righteous leads to life,

but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.

17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who ignores reproof goes astray.

18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19When words are many, sin is unavoidable,

but he who restrains his lips is wise.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,

but the heart of the wicked has little worth.

21The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of judgment.

22The blessing of the LORD {YHWH} enriches,

and He adds no sorrow to it.

23The fool delights in shameful conduct,

but a man of understanding has wisdom.

24What the wicked man dreads will overtake him,

but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the whirlwind (honeycomb / overflow) passes, the wicked are no more,

but the righteous are secure forever.

26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so is the slacker to those who send him.

27The fear of the LORD {YHWH} prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

28The hope of the righteous is joy,

but the expectations of the wicked will perish.

29The way of the LORD {YHWH} is a refuge to the upright,

but destruction awaits those who do evil.

30The righteous will never be shaken,

but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,

but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.