New King James Version

New Living Translation

1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.

2Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.

3The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

3The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

4He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

4Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

5He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

5A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

6The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

7The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.

7We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.

8The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.

8The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

9He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.

9People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

10He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.

10People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.

11The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

11The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

12Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.

12Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.

13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

13Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

14Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

14Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

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

15The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.

16The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.

17He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.

17People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.

18Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

18Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.

19In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

19Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little.

20The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.

21The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

21The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

22The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

22The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

23To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.

23Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

24The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted.

24The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.

25When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

25When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy man to those who send him.

26Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

27Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

28The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

29The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.

30The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

30The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

31The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

32The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.