Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

1The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

But righteousness delivers from death.

3Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to hunger,

But He will push away the craving of the wicked.

4Poor is he who works with a slack [†]hand,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5He who gathers in summer is a son who acts insightfully,

But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

But the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.

7The remembrance of the righteous is blessed,

But the name of the wicked will rot.

8The wise of heart will receive commandments,

But an ignorant fool of loose lips will be [†]ruined.

9He who walks in integrity walks securely,

But he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

10He who winks the eye causes pain,

And an ignorant fool of loose lips will be [†]ruined.

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

But the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.

12Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all transgressions.

13On the lips of the one who has understanding, wisdom is found,

But a rod is for the back of him who lacks a heart of wisdom.

14Wise men store up knowledge,

But the mouth of the ignorant fool draws ruin near.

15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16The [†]wages of the righteous is life,

The income of the wicked, punishment.

17He is on the path of life who keeps discipline,

But he who forsakes reproof makes [†]himself wander about.

18He who covers up hatred has lying lips,

And he who spreads a bad report is a fool.

19When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,

But he who holds back his lips has insight.

20The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,

The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21The lips of the righteous feed many,

But ignorant fools die for lack of a heart of wisdom.

22It is the blessing of Yahweh that makes rich,

And He adds no pain with it.

23Doing wickedness is like laughing to a fool,

And so is wisdom to a man of discernment.

24What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,

But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

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

So is the sluggard to those who send him.

27The fear of Yahweh prolongs [†]life,

But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

28The expectation of the righteous is gladness,

But the hope of the wicked will perish.

29The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the one with integrity,

But ruin to the workers of iniquity.

30The righteous will never be shaken,

But the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31The mouth of the righteous bears wisdom,

But the tongue of perversions will be cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wicked [†]what is perverse.