Pro 10-15 | ESV | STEP | The proverbs of Solomon . A wise son makes a glad father , but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother .

1 ^aThe proverbs of Solomon.

^bA wise son makes a glad father,
^cbut a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
2 ^dTreasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
^ebut righteousness delivers from death.
3 ^fThe Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
^gbut he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 A slack hand ^hcauses poverty,
ⁱbut the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who ^jgathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is ^ka son who brings shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but ^lthe mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 ^mThe memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but ⁿthe name of the wicked will rot.
8 ^oThe wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
9 ^pWhoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked ^qwill be found out.
10 Whoever ^rwinks the eye causes trouble,
and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 ^sThe mouth of the righteous is ^ta fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked ^uconceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but ^vlove covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but ^wa rod is for the back of him who ^xlacks sense.
14 The wise ^ylay up knowledge,
but ^zthe mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15 ^aaA rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16 The wage of the righteous leads ^abto life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on ^acthe path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19 ^adWhen words are many, transgression is not lacking,
^aebut whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is ^afchoice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for ^aglack of sense.
22 ^ahThe blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it. ^{▼▼Or and toil adds nothing to it}
23 Doing wrong is ^ajlike a joke to a fool,
but ^akwisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 ^alWhat the wicked dreads ^amwill come upon him,
but ^anthe desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When ^aothe tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but ^apthe righteous is established forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 ^aqThe fear of the Lord prolongs life,
^arbut the years of the wicked will be short.
28 ^asThe hope of the righteous brings joy,
^atbut the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 ^auThe way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
30 ^avThe righteous will never be removed,
but ^awthe wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 ^axThe mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous ^ayknow what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, ^azwhat is perverse.

Proverbs 11

1 ^baA false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
^bbbut a just weight is his delight.
2 ^bcWhen pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with ^bdthe humble is wisdom.
3 ^beThe integrity of the upright guides them,
^bfbut the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 ^bgRiches do not profit in the day of wrath,
^bhbut righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless ^bikeeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 ^bjThe righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous ^bkare taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his ^blhope will perish,
and ^bmthe expectation of wealth ^{▼▼Or of his strength, or of iniquity} perishes too.
8 ^boThe righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 ^bpWhen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but ^bqby the mouth of the wicked ^brit is overthrown.
12 Whoever ^bsbelittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever ^btgoes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where there is ^buno guidance, a people falls,
^bvbut in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 ^bwWhoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 ^bxA gracious woman gets honor,
and ^byviolent men get riches.
17 ^bzA man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who ^casows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^cbwill live,
but ^cche who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of ^cdcrooked heart are ^cean abomination to the Lord,
but those of ^cfblameless ways are ^cghis delight.
21 ^chBe assured, ^cian evil person will not go unpunished,
but ^cjthe offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like ^cka gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
^clthe expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 ^cmOne gives ^cnfreely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 ^coWhoever brings blessing ^cpwill be enriched,
and ^cqone who waters will himself be watered.
26 ^crThe people curse him who holds back grain,
but ^csa blessing is on the head of him who ^ctsells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, ^{▼▼Or acceptance}
but evil comes to ^cvhim who searches for it.
28 Whoever ^cwtrusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will ^cxflourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever ^cytroubles his own household will ^czinherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is ^daa tree of life,
and whoever ^dbcaptures souls is wise.
31 If ^dcthe righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Proverbs 12

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who ^ddhates reproof is ^destupid.
2 A good man ^dfobtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3 No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of ^dgthe righteous will never be moved.
4 ^dhAn excellent wife is ^dithe crown of her husband,
but she who ^djbrings shame is like ^dkrottenness in his bones.
5 ^dlThe thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked ^dmlie in wait for blood,
but ^dnthe mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 ^doThe wicked are ^dpoverthrown and are no more,
^dqbut the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is ^drdespised.
9 Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 ^dsWhoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 ^dtWhoever works his land ^duwill have plenty of bread,
^dvbut he who follows ^dwworthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked covets ^dxthe spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared ^dyby the transgression of his lips,
^dzbut the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth ^eaa man is satisfied with good,
^eband the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15 ^ecThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16 ^edThe vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 ^eeWhoever speaks ^{▼▼Hebrew breathes out} the truth gives honest evidence,
but ^ega false witness utters deceit.
18 ^ehThere is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings ^eihealing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but ^eja lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of ^ekthose who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21 ^elNo ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 ^emLying lips are ^enan abomination to the Lord,
^eobut those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 ^epA prudent man conceals knowledge,
^eqbut the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 ^erThe hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be ^esput to forced labor.
25 ^etAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, ^{▼▼Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully}
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 ^evWhoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth. ^{▼▼Or but diligence is precious wealth}
28 ^exIn the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.

Proverbs 13

1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but ^eya scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man ^ezeats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous ^fais for violence.
3 ^fbWhoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
^fche who opens wide his lips ^fdcomes to ruin.
4 ^feThe soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent ^ffis richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame ^{▼▼Or stench} and disgrace.
6 ^fhRighteousness guards him whose ^fiway is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 ^fjOne pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
^fkanother pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man ^flhears no threat.
9 ^fmThe light of the righteous rejoices,
but ^fnthe lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 ^foBy insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 ^fpWealth gained hastily ^{▼▼Or by fraud} will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
^frbut a desire fulfilled is ^fsa tree of life.
13 Whoever ^ftdespises ^futhe word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be ^fvrewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is ^fwa fountain of life,
that one may ^fxturn away from the snares of death.
15 ^fyGood sense wins ^fzfavor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. ^{▼▼Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut}
16 ^gbEvery prudent man acts with knowledge,
^gcbut a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but ^gda faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^geignores instruction,
^gfbut whoever ^ggheeds reproof is honored.
19 ^ghA desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 ^giDisaster ^{▼▼Or Evil} pursues sinners,
^gkbut the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 ^glA good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but ^gmthe sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through ^gninjustice.
24 ^goWhoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. ^{▼▼Or who loves him disciplines him early}
25 ^gqThe righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Proverbs 14

1 ^grThe wisest of women ^gsbuilds her house,
but folly with her own hands ^gttears it down.
2 Whoever ^guwalks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is ^gvdevious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes ^gwa rod for his back, ^{▼▼Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride}
^gybut the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 ^gzA faithful witness does not lie,
but ^haa false witness breathes out lies.
6 ^hbA scoffer seeks wisdom ^hcin vain,
but ^hdknowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 ^heFools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance. ^{▼▼Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance}
10 The heart knows its own ^hgbitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 ^hhThe house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 ^hiThere is a way that seems right to a man,
but ^hjits end is the way to death. ^{▼▼Hebrew ways of death}
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and ^hlthe end of joy may be ^hmgrief.
14 The backslider in heart will be ^hnfilled with the fruit of his ways,
and ^hoa good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 ^hpThe simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 ^hqOne who is wise is cautious ^{▼▼Or fears [the Lord]} and ^hsturns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of ^htquick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 ^huThe evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 ^hvThe poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
^hwbut the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever ^hxdespises his neighbor is a sinner,
but ^hyblessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who ^hzdevise evil?
Those who devise good meet ^{▼▼Or show} ^ibsteadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk ^ictends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who ^idbreathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has ^iestrong confidence,
and ^ifhis children will have ^iga refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is ^iha fountain of life,
that one may ⁱⁱturn away from the snares of death.
28 In ^ija multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is ^ikslow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil ^{▼▼Or healing} heart gives ^imlife to the flesh,
but ⁱⁿenvy ^{▼▼Or jealousy} makes ^ipthe bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man ^iqinsults his ^irMaker,
^isbut he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 ^itThe wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but ^iuthe righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom ^ivrests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. ^{▼▼Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools}
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has ^ixthe king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 15

1 ^iyA soft answer turns away wrath,
but ^iza harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but ^jathe mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 ^jbThe eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 ^jcA gentle ^{▼▼Or healing} tongue is ^jea tree of life,
but ^jfperverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 ^jgA fool ^jhdespises his father’s instruction,
but ^jiwhoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 ^jjThe lips of the wise spread knowledge;
^jknot so the hearts of fools. ^{▼▼Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast}
8 ^jmThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but ^jnthe prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him ^jowho pursues righteousness.
10 There is ^jpsevere discipline for him who forsakes the way;
^jqwhoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more ^jrthe hearts of the children of man!
12 ^jsA scoffer ^jtdoes not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 ^juA glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by ^jvsorrow of heart the spirit is ^jwcrushed.
14 ^jxThe heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but ^jythe cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 ^jzBetter is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 ^kaBetter is a dinner of herbs where love is
than ^kba fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 ^kcA hot-tempered man ^kdstirs up strife,
but he who is ^keslow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of ^kfa sluggard is like a hedge of ^kgthorns,
but the path of the upright is ^kha level highway.
20 ^kiA wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 ^kjFolly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding ^kkwalks straight ahead.
22 ^klWithout counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and ^kma word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward ^knfor the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of ^kothe proud
but ^kpmaintains ^kqthe widow’s boundaries.
26 ^krThe thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but ^ksgracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is ^ktgreedy for unjust gain ^kutroubles his own household,
but he who hates ^kvbribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ^kwponders how to answer,
but ^kxthe mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is ^kyfar from the wicked,
but he ^kzhears the prayer of the righteous.
30 ^laThe light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and ^lbgood news refreshes ^{▼▼Hebrew makes fat} the bones.
31 ^ldThe ear that listens to ^lelife-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever ^lfignores instruction ^lgdespises himself,
but he who listens to reproof ^lhgains intelligence.
33 ^liThe fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and ^ljhumility comes before honor.