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Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 10

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

*Solomon's sayings. A smart child brings joy to his dad: but a dumb child saddens his mom.

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

*Wicked treasures bring no gain; righteousness saves from death.

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

*God won't let good people starve. He makes sure they have enough, but takes what the bad people have.

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

*Becoming poor is linked to being lazy, but hard work leads to wealth.

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

*Collecting in summer shows wisdom; sleeping during harvest brings shame.

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

*Blessings are on those who do right. But bad things happen to those who do wrong.

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

*The good person's memories are praised, but the bad person's name will decay.

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

*Wise people will follow guidance, but a person who talks a lot without sense will fail.

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

*Walking rightly leads to certain steps; but if you go astray, others will see it.

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

*Winking with the eye can cause sadness, but a person who talks too much will eventually fail.

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

*A good person's mouth brings life; a bad person's violence hides their mouth.

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

*Hatred causes conflicts, but love covers up all wrongdoings.

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

*Wisdom can be found in the lips of someone who understands things, but a rod is used on those who lack understanding.

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

*Intelligent people gather knowledge: but the mouths of foolish people are close to ruin.

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

*The rich person's money is like a strong fortress. When poor people lose, it's because they don't have enough money.

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

*The hard work of good people leads to life: the results of bad people lead to wrongdoing.

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

*He follows the path of life by obeying teachings, but those who reject guidance make mistakes.

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

*Who hides hate behind fake words and who spreads lies is foolish.

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

*In many words, sin is often found. But being silent and holding back what you say shows true wisdom.

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

*A good person's words are like valuable silver. A bad person's heart isn't worth much.

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

*The good person's mouth provides food for others, but foolish people pass away because they lack understanding.

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

*The Lord's blessing makes people wealthy and doesn't bring any sadness with it.

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

*Doing harm is like play for a foolish person, but a smart person has good judgment.

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

*Fear will happen to bad people, but good people's wishes will be fulfilled.

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

*As the whirlwind quickly goes away, the bad person disappears too; but the good person remains like a lasting base forever.

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

*Like vinegar to teeth and smoke to eyes, a lazy person is to those who give him work.

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

*Fearing God gives longer life, but bad people's lives are shorter.

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

*The hope of good people brings joy, but the expectation of bad people will fail.

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

*The LORD's path gives power to those who are good, but doom to those who do wrong things.

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

*The righteous will always be around; the wicked, though, won't last on Earth.

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

*The mouth of good people speaks wisdom, but a deceitful tongue will be silenced.

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

*Good people's lips understand what is right; bad people's mouths say wrong things.

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