Historical
III. First Solomonic Collection of Sayings[a]
Chapter 10
1 The Proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son gives his father joy,
but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.[b](A)
2 Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,
but justice saves from death.[c](B)
3 The Lord does not let the just go hungry,
but the craving of the wicked he thwarts.[d]
4 The slack hand impoverishes,
but the busy hand brings riches.(C)
5 A son who gathers in summer is a credit;
a son who slumbers during harvest, a disgrace.
6 Blessings are for the head of the just;
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.[e]
7 The memory of the just serves as blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.[f]
8 A wise heart accepts commands,
but a babbling fool will be overthrown.[g]
9 Whoever walks honestly walks securely,
but one whose ways are crooked will fare badly.
10 One who winks at a fault causes trouble,
but one who frankly reproves promotes peace.
11 The mouth of the just is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up disputes,
(D) but love covers all offenses.[h]
13 On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom,
but a rod for the back of one without sense.[i]
14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool is imminent ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
the ruin of the poor is their poverty.[j]
16 The labor of the just leads to life,
the gains of the wicked, to futility.[k](E)
17 Whoever follows instruction is in the path to life,
but whoever disregards reproof goes astray.(F)
18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 Where words are many, sin is not wanting;
but those who restrain their lips do well.(G)
20 Choice silver is the tongue of the just;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the just nourish many,
but fools die for want of sense.[l]
22 It is the Lord’s blessing that brings wealth,(H)
and no effort can substitute for it.[m]
23 Crime is the entertainment of the fool;
but wisdom is for the person of understanding.
24 What the wicked fear will befall them,
but the desire of the just will be granted.
25 When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more;
but the just are established forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,
are sluggards to those who send them.
27 Fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.(I)
28 The hope of the just brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked perishes.[n]
29 The Lord is a stronghold to those who walk honestly,
downfall for evildoers.
30 The just will never be disturbed,
but the wicked will not abide in the land.
31 The mouth of the just yields wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the just know favor,
but the mouth of the wicked, perversion.[o]
Chapter 11
1 False scales are an abomination to the Lord,
but an honest weight, his delight.[p](J)
2 When pride comes, disgrace comes;
but with the humble is wisdom.[q]
3 The honesty of the upright guides them;
the faithless are ruined by their duplicity.
4 Wealth is useless on a day of wrath,[r](K)
but justice saves from death.
5 The justice of the honest makes their way straight,
but by their wickedness the wicked fall.[s](L)
6 The justice of the upright saves them,
but the faithless are caught in their own intrigue.
7 When a person dies, hope is destroyed;(M)
expectation pinned on wealth is destroyed.[t]
8 The just are rescued from a tight spot,
but the wicked fall into it instead.
9 By a word the impious ruin their neighbors,(N)
but through their knowledge the just are rescued.[u]
10 When the just prosper, the city rejoices;(O)
when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 Through the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
but through the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12 Whoever reviles a neighbor lacks sense,
but the intelligent keep silent.
13 One who slanders reveals secrets,(P)
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 For lack of guidance a people falls;
security lies in many counselors.(Q)
15 Harm will come to anyone going surety for another,(R)
but whoever hates giving pledges is secure.[v]
16 A gracious woman gains esteem,
and ruthless men gain wealth.[w]
17 Kindly people benefit themselves,
but the merciless harm themselves.
18 The wicked make empty profits,
but those who sow justice have a sure reward.(S)
19 Justice leads toward life,
but pursuit of evil, toward death.
20 The crooked in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who walk blamelessly are his delight.[x]
21 Be assured, the wicked shall not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the just shall escape.
22 Like a golden ring in a swine’s snout
is a beautiful woman without judgment.[y]
23 The desire of the just ends only in good;
the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 One person is lavish yet grows still richer;
another is too sparing, yet is the poorer.[z]
25 Whoever confers benefits will be amply enriched,
and whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 Whoever hoards grain, the people curse,
but blessings are on the head of one who distributes it!
27 Those who seek the good seek favor,
but those who pursue evil will have evil come upon them.[aa]
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but like green leaves the just will flourish.(T)
29 Those who trouble their household inherit the wind,
and fools become slaves to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of justice is a tree of life,
and one who takes lives is a sage.[ab]
31 If the just are recompensed on the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner
Chapter 12
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates reproof is stupid.[ad](V)
2 A good person wins favor from the Lord,
but the schemer he condemns.[ae]
3 No one is made secure by wickedness,
but the root of the just will never be disturbed.[af]
4 A woman of worth is the crown of her husband,(W)
but a disgraceful one is like rot in his bones.[ag]
5 The plans of the just are right;
the designs of the wicked are deceit.[ah]
6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
but the speech of the upright saves them.[ai]
7 Overthrow the wicked and they are no more,
but the house of the just stands firm.
8 For their good sense people are praised,
but the perverse of heart are despised.[aj]
9 Better to be slighted and have a servant
than put on airs and lack bread.(X)
10 The just take care of their livestock,
but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.[ak]
11 Those who till their own land have food in plenty,
but those who engage in idle pursuits lack sense.[al](Y)
12 A wicked person desires the catch of evil people,
but the root of the righteous will bear fruit.[am]
13 By the sin of their lips the wicked are ensnared,
but the just escape from a tight spot.
14 From the fruit of their mouths people have their fill of good,(Z)
and the works of their hands come back upon them.[an]
15 The way of fools is right in their own eyes,
but those who listen to advice are the wise.
16 Fools immediately show their anger,
but the shrewd conceal contempt.
17 Whoever speaks honestly testifies truly,
but the deceitful make lying witnesses.[ao](AA)
18 The babble of some people is like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
the lying tongue, for only a moment.[ap]
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
but those who counsel peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the just,
but the wicked are overwhelmed with misfortune.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,(AB)
but those who are truthful, his delight.
23 The shrewd conceal knowledge,
but the hearts of fools proclaim folly.[aq]
24 The diligent hand will govern,
but sloth makes for forced labor.(AC)
25 Worry weighs down the heart,
but a kind word gives it joy.(AD)
26 The just act as guides to their neighbors,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 Sloth does not catch its prey,
but the wealth of the diligent is splendid.
28 In the path of justice is life,
but the way of abomination leads to death.
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