Chapter 10

¹ A wise son makes his father glad: but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. ² Treasures shall not profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death. ³ The Lord will not famish a righteous soul: but he will overthrow the life of the ungodly.

⁴ Poverty brings a man low: but the hands of the vigorous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant. ⁵ A wise son is saved from heat: but a lawless son is blighted of the winds in harvest.

⁶ The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but untimely grief shall cover the mouth of the ungodly. ⁷ The memory of the just is praised; but the

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name of the ungodly man is extinguished. ⁸ A wise man in heart will receive commandments; but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness. ⁹ He that walks simply, walks confidently; but he that perverts his ways shall be known. ¹⁰ He that winks with his eyes deceitfully, procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker. ¹¹ There is a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

¹² Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife. ¹³ He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the ¹fool with a rod. ¹⁴ The wise will hide discretion; but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin. ¹⁵ The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly. ¹⁶ The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly produce sins. ¹⁷ Instruction keeps the right ways of life; but instruction unchastened goes astray.

¹⁸ Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish. ¹⁹ By a multitude of words thou shalt not escape sin; but if thou refrain thy lips thou wilt be prudent. ²⁰ The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail. ²¹ The lips of the righteous know sublime truths: but the foolish die in want. ²² The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous; it enriches him, and grief of heart shall not be added to it.

²³ A fool does mischief in ²sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.

²⁴ The ungodly is engulphed in destruction; but the desire of the righteous is acceptable. ²⁵ When the storm passes by, the ungodly vanishes away; but the righteous turns aside and escapes for ever. ²⁶ As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practise it. ²⁷ The fear of the Lord adds length of days: but the years of the ungodly shall be shortened. ²⁸ Joy rests long with the righteous: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish. ²⁹ The fear of the Lord is a strong hold of the saints: but ruin comes to them that work wickedness.

³⁰ The righteous shall never fail: but the ungodly shall not dwell in the earth. ³¹ The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. ³² The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.