Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Solomon's proverbs: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

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

2Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death.

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

3The LORD will not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the wicked what they crave.

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

4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.

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

5The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

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 the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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

7The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

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

8A wise heart accepts commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed.

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

9The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.

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

10A sly wink of the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will be destroyed.

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

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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

12Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.

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

13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.

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

14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

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

15A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

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 activity of the wicked leads to sin.

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

17The one who follows instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

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

18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

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

19When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.

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

20The tongue of the righteous is pure silver; the heart of the wicked is of little value.

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 sense.

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

22The LORD's blessing enriches, and struggle adds nothing to it.

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

23As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

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

24What the wicked dreads will come to him, but what the righteous desire will be given to them.

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

25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.

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

26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.

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

27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

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

28The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

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

29The way of the LORD is a stronghold for the honorable, but destruction awaits the malicious.

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

30The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not remain on the earth.

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

31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but a 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 appropriate, but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.