Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son

1Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother.

2Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death.

3Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away.

4Poor [is] he who is working — a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5Whoso is gathering in summer [is] a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest [is] a son causing shame.

6Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

7The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.

8The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.

9Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.

10Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh.

11A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

12Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.

13In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.

14The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool [is] near ruin.

15The wealth of the rich [is] his strong city, The ruin of the poor [is] their poverty.

16The wage of the righteous [is] for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.

17A traveller to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.

18Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

19In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips [is] wise.

20The tongue of the righteous [is] chosen silver, The heart of the wicked — as a little thing.

21The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.

22The blessing of Jehovah — it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.

23To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.

24The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given.

25As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.

26As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So [is] the slothful to those sending him.

27The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.

28The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.

29The way of Jehovah [is] strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.

30The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.

31The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!