Proverbs 10

A Collection of Solomon’s Proverbs

1 Solomon’s proverbs:  * 10:1 Pr 1:1

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.  * 10:1 Pr 15:20; 17:25; 23:24–25; 29:3,15

2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,

but righteousness rescues from death.  * 10:2 Pr 11:4,18; 12:28; 21:6; Ezk 7:19; Lk 12:19–20

3 The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry,  * 10:3 Ps 37:25; Mt 6:33

but he denies the wicked what they crave.  * 10:3 Ps 112:10

4 Idle hands make one poor,

but diligent hands bring riches.  * 10:4 Pr 12:24,27; 13:4,11; 19:15; 21:5

5 The son who gathers during summer is prudent;

the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.  * 10:5 Pr 6:6–11; 30:25

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  * 10:6 Pr 10:11

7 The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot.  * 10:7 Ps 9:5–6; 112:6

8 A wise heart accepts commands,  * 10:8 Mt 7:24

but foolish lips will be destroyed.

9 The one who lives with integrity lives securely,  * 10:9 Ps 23:4; Pr 2:7; 3:23; 19:1; 20:7; 28:6,18; Is 33:15–16

but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.  * 10:9 Pr 26:26; Mt 10:26; 1Tm 5:25

10 A sly wink of the eye  * 10:10 Ps 35:19; Pr 6:13; 16:30 causes grief,

and foolish lips will be destroyed.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,  * 10:11 Ps 37:30; Pr 13:14; 14:27; 16:22

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  * 10:11 Pr 10:6

12 Hatred stirs up conflicts,

but love covers all offenses.  * 10:12 Pr 17:9; Jms 5:20; 1Pt 4:8

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.  * 10:13 Pr 19:29; 26:3

14 The wise store up knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.  * 10:14 Pr 10:8; 12:13; 13:3; 18:7

15 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;  * 10:15 Ps 52:7; Pr 18:11

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The reward of the righteous is life;

the wages of the wicked is punishment.  * 10:16 Pr 11:19

17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,

but the one who rejects correction goes astray.  * 10:17 Pr 5:12–13,22–23; 6:23; 13:13–14

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever spreads slander is a fool.  * 10:18 Pr 11:13

19 When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,

but the one who controls his lips is prudent.  * 10:19 Pr 17:27–28; Jms 1:19; 3:2

20 The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little value.  * 10:20 Pr 8:19; 10:32

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.  * 10:21 Hs 4:6

22 The Lord’s blessing enriches,  * 10:22 Gn 24:35; 26:12; Dt 8:18; Jms 1:17

and he adds no painful effort to it.  * 10:22 Or and painful effort adds nothing to it,* 10:22 Mt 6:31–32

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,  * 10:23 Pr 2:14; 15:21

so wisdom is for a person of understanding.

24 What the wicked dreads will come to him,  * 10:24 Pr 1:26–27; Is 66:4; Heb 10:27

but what the righteous desire will be given to them.  * 10:24 Ps 37:4; 145:19; Pr 11:23; Mt 5:6; 1Jn 5:14–15

25 When the whirlwind passes,

the wicked are no more,  * 10:25 Jb 21:18; Is 29:5–7

but the righteous are secure forever.  * 10:25 Ps 15:5; Pr 10:30; 12:3,7; Mt 7:24–27

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,  * 10:26 Pr 26:6

so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.

27 The fear of the  Lord prolongs life,  * 10:27 Lit Lord adds to days,* 10:27 Pr 3:2

but the years of the wicked are cut short.  * 10:27 Jb 15:32–33; Pr 14:26–27; 15:16; 19:23

28 The hope of the righteous is joy,  * 10:28 Pr 11:23; 23:18; Jr 29:11

but the expectation of the wicked will perish.  * 10:28 Jb 8:13; 14:9; Pr 11:7; Ezk 37:11

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the honorable,

but destruction awaits evildoers.  * 10:29 Pr 13:6; 21:15

30 The righteous will never be shaken,

but the wicked will not remain on the earth.  * 10:30 Ps 21:7; 37:29; 125:1; Pr 2:21–22; 12:3

31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,  * 10:31 Ps 37:30

but a perverse tongue will be cut out.  * 10:31 Ps 37:38; 120:2–4

32 The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate,  * 10:32 Ec 10:12

but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.  * 10:32 Pr 2:12; 10:20; 15:28