Proverbs 10:1-32
Proverbs of Solomon
1 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
without painful toil for it.
23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are sluggards to those who send them.
27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
The author of Proverbs teaches us that the wise son listens to his father...He contrasts living a righteous life with an evil one...
The wise in heart are instructed well , but a babbling one will fall...The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence...From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but an disobedient tongue will be silenced...The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor...The righteous man is careful of his words, but the wicked man pours out his folly...The wealth of the rich is their strong city, but the poverty of the poor is their ruin...The righteous man is delivered from trouble, but the wicked man is overtaken by it...Whoever heeds discipline and follows God's Truth shows the way to an Abundant Life, but whoever ignores correction and God's Word goes astray...For the way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil...
These Proverbs teaches us that wisdom and righteousness lead to a happy and prosperous life, an abundant life...We learn that folly and wickedness lead us to destruction...We are reminded that our choices have consequences, and that we should strive to live a life that is pleasing to God...
We learn that wisdom is essential for living a good life...The wise person is careful about their words and actions, and they are always seeking to learn and grow...He teaches us that righteousness is important...The righteous person is kind, compassionate, and just...They are also honest and trustworthy...They forgive and have mercy on others...They listen to the Truth...
The righteous ones will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished...We are reminded that God is aways in control, and that He will judge everyone according to the choices they make each day and the deeds that follow their choices...
As St. James teaches us about the tongue it is powerful and helpful, yet it can be a problem and cause problems...The tongue is a small part of the body, but it can do great damage...The tongue can be used to praise God or to curse people...The tongue can be used to build up or tear down people...No one can tame the tongue...We should use our tongues for good, not for evil...Solomon says here that whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool...Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues...The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value...The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense...From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced...The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse...