Solomon's Wise Sayings
1 Here are some proverbs
of Solomon:
Children with good sense
make their parents happy,
but foolish children
make them sad.
2 What you gain by doing evil
won't help you at all.
Obeying God is the only way
to be saved from death.
3 If you obey the Lord,
you won't go hungry;
if you are wicked,
God won't let you have
what you want.
4 Laziness leads to poverty;
hard work makes you rich.
5 At harvest season
it's smart to work hard,
but stupid to sleep.
6 Everyone praises good people,
but evil hides behind
the words of the wicked.
7 Good people are remembered
long after they are gone,
but the wicked
are soon forgotten.
8 If you have good sense,
you will listen and obey;
if all you do is talk foolishly,
you will destroy yourself.
9 You will be safe,
if you always do right,
but you will get caught,
if you are dishonest.
10 Deceit causes trouble,
and foolish talk
will bring you to ruin.
11 The words of good people
are a source of life,
but evil hides behind
the words of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up trouble;
love overlooks the wrongs
that others do.
13 If you have good sense,
it will show when you speak.
But if you are stupid,
you will be beaten
with a stick.
14 If you have good sense,
you will learn all you can,
but foolish talk
will soon destroy you.
15 Great wealth can be a fortress,
but poverty
is no protection at all.
16 If you live right,
the reward is a good life;
if you are evil,
all you have is sin.
17 Accept correction,
and you will find life;
reject correction,
and you will miss the road.
18 You can hide your hatred
by telling lies,
but you are a fool
to spread lies.
19 You will say the wrong thing
if you talk too much—
so be sensible and watch
what you say.
20 The words of a good person
are like pure silver,
but the thoughts
of an evil person
are almost worthless.
21 Many are helped
by useful instruction,
but fools are killed
by their own stupidity.
22 When the Lord blesses you
with riches,
you have nothing to regret.
23 Fools enjoy doing wrong,
but anyone with good sense
enjoys acting wisely.
24 What evil people dread most
will happen to them,
but good people will get
what they want most.
25 Those crooks will disappear
when a storm strikes,
but God will keep safe
all who obey him.
26 Having a lazy person on the job
is like a mouth full of vinegar
or smoke in your eyes.
27 If you respect the Lord,
you will live longer;
if you keep doing wrong,
your life will be cut short.
28 If you obey the Lord,
you will be happy,
but there is no future
for the wicked.
29 The Lord protects everyone
who lives right,
but he destroys anyone
who does wrong.
30 Good people will stand firm,
but the wicked will disappear
from the land.
31 Honest people speak sensibly,
but deceitful liars
will be silenced.
32 If you obey the Lord,
you will always know
the right thing to say.
But no one will trust you
if you tell lies.
1 THE PARABLE OF SALOMON. A wise sonne maketh a glad father: but a foolish sonne is an heauines to his mother. 2 The treasures of wickednesse profite nothing: but righteousnesse deliuereth from death. 3 The Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 4 A slouthfull hand maketh poore: but the hand of the diligent maketh riche. 5 He that gathereth in sommer, is the sonne of wisdome: but he that sleepeth in haruest, is the sonne of confusion. 6 Blessings are vpon the head of the righteous: but iniquitie shall couer the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memoriall of the iust shalbe blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rotte. 8 The wise in heart will receiue commandements: but the foolish in talke shalbe beaten. 9 He that walketh vprightly, walketh boldely: but he that peruerteth his wayes, shalbe knowen. 10 He that winketh with the eye, worketh sorowe, and he yet is foolish in talke, shalbe beaten. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a welspring of life: but iniquitie couereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth vp contentions: but loue couereth all trespasses. 13 In the lippes of him that hath vnderstanding wisdome is founde, and a rod shalbe for the backe of him that is destitute of wisedome. 14 Wise men lay vp knowledge: but ye mouth of the foole is a present destruction. 15 The riche mans goodes are his strong citie: but the feare of the needie is their pouertie. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: but the reuenues of the wicked to sinne. 17 He that regardeth instruction, is in the way of life: but he that refuseth correction, goeth out of the way. 18 He that dissembleth hatred with lying lips, and he that inuenteth slaunder, is a foole. 19 In many wordes there cannot want iniquitie: but he that refrayneth his lippes, is wise. 20 The tongue of the iust man is as fined siluer: but the heart of the wicked is litle worth. 21 The lippes of the righteous doe feede many: but fooles shall die for want of wisedome. 22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh riche, and he doeth adde no sorowes with it. 23 It is as a pastime to a foole to doe wickedly: but wisedome is vnderstanding to a man. 24 That which the wicked feareth, shall come vpon him: but God wil graunt the desire of the righteous. 25 As the whirlewinde passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is as an euerlasting foundation. 26 As vineger is to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the slouthful to them that send him. 27 The feare of the Lord increaseth the dayes: but the yeeres of the wicked shalbe diminished. 28 The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse: but the hope of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of the Lord is strength to the vpright man: but feare shall be for the workers of iniquitie. 30 The righteous shall neuer be remooued: but the wicked shall not dwell in the land. 31 The mouth of the iust shall be fruitfull in wisdome: but the tongue of the froward shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous knowe what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh froward things.