Wise Sayings of Solomon
The proverbs of aSolomon:
bA wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 aTreasures of wickedness profit nothing,
bBut righteousness delivers from death.
3 aThe Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,
But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4 aHe who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But bthe hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in asummer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is ba son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 aThe memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commands,
aBut a prating fool will fall.
9 aHe who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But alove covers all sins.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But aa rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
14 Wise people store up knowledge,
But athe mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The arich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to alife,
The wages of the wicked to sin.
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
18 Whoever ahides hatred has lying lips,
And bwhoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 aIn the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But bhe who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 aThe blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
23 aTo do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 aThe fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And bthe desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes by, athe wicked is no more,
But bthe righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.
27 aThe fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But bthe years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the aexpectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But adestruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30 aThe righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
31 aThe mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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