Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

1These are the wise sayings of Solomon. A wise son makes his father happy. A foolish son brings his mother sorrow.

2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

2Riches gained by doing wrong are worth nothing. Doing what is right saves a person from death.

3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

3The LORD will not let good people go hungry. But he refuses to give the wicked what they crave.

NoteThe KJV says God will not "suffer" them to starve. Here "suffer" means allow, not hurt.

4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

4Lazy hands make a person poor. Hard-working hands make a person rich.

5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

5A son who gathers crops in the summer is wise. A son who sleeps through harvest brings shame.

6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

6Good things come to honest people. But the mouth of the wicked hides violence.

7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

7People remember good people gladly. But the name of the wicked rots away.

8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

8A wise person takes the commands he is given. But a foolish talker falls flat.

9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

9Whoever lives an honest life walks safely. Whoever twists his ways will be found out.

10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

10Someone who winks his eye to trick others causes pain. And a foolish talker falls flat.

11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

11What a good person says is like a spring of fresh water. But the mouth of the wicked hides violence.

12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

12Hate starts fights. Love covers over every wrong.

13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

13You can hear wisdom in the words of a person who understands. But a stick is for the back of a person with no sense.

Note"Void of understanding" means having no good sense, not being unable to learn.

14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

14Wise people store up what they know. But the mouth of a fool brings ruin close.

15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

15A rich man's money is like a walled city that protects him. Being poor is what ruins the poor.

16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

16The work of a good person leads to life. What the wicked earn leads to sin.

17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

17Whoever listens when he is taught is on the path to life. Whoever refuses correction wanders off.

18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

18The person who hides his hatred is a liar. And whoever spreads a false story is a fool.

19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

19When people talk too much, sin is sure to show up. A person who holds his tongue is wise.

20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

20The words of a good person are like the finest silver. The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

21The words of a good person feed many people. But fools die because they have no sense.

NoteThe KJV says fools die for "want" of wisdom. Here "want" means lack.

22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

22The LORD's blessing is what makes a person rich. He adds no sorrow along with it.

23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

23A fool thinks doing wrong is a game. But a person who understands holds on to wisdom.

24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

24What the wicked man is afraid of will happen to him. What good people want will be given to them.

25As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

25When the storm blows through, the wicked are gone. But good people stand firm forever.

26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

26Vinegar hurts the teeth and smoke stings the eyes. A lazy worker is like that to the one who sent him.

27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

27Respect for the LORD makes life longer. But the years of the wicked are cut short.

28The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

28What good people hope for turns into joy. What the wicked expect comes to nothing.

29The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

29The LORD's way is a safe place for honest people. But it means ruin for those who do evil.

30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

30Good people will never be shaken loose. But the wicked will not stay in the land.

31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

31Wisdom comes out of the mouth of a good person. But a twisted tongue will be cut out.

Note"Froward" is an old word meaning twisted or turned the wrong way. It is used again in verse 32.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

32Good people know the right thing to say. But the mouth of the wicked says what is twisted.