Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 These are Solomon's proverbs: Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief.
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The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; But a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life.
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Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord will not let good people go hungry, but he will keep the wicked from getting what they want.
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Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, But he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4 Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich.
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He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
5 A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest.
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He who gathers in summer is a wise son, But he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Good people will receive blessings. The words of the wicked hide a violent nature.
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Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but the wicked will soon be forgotten.
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The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
8 Sensible people accept good advice. People who talk foolishly will come to ruin.
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The wise in heart accept commandments, But a chattering fool will fall.
9 Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught.
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He who walks blamelessly walks surely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace.
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One winking with the eye causes sorrow, But a chattering fool will fall.
11 A good person's words are a fountain of life, but a wicked person's words hide a violent nature.
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The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.
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Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.
13 Intelligent people talk sense, but stupid people need to be punished.
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Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, But a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 The wise get all the knowledge they can, but when fools speak, trouble is not far off.
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Wise men lay up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
15 Wealth protects the rich; poverty destroys the poor.
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The rich man's wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The reward for doing good is life, but sin leads only to more sin.
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The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
17 People who listen when they are corrected will live, but those who will not admit that they are wrong are in danger.
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He is in the way of life who heeds correction, But he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
18 Anyone who hides hatred is a liar. Anyone who spreads gossip is a fool.
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He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
19 The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.
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In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, But he who restrains his lips does wisely.
20 A good person's words are like pure silver; a wicked person's ideas are worthless.
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The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 A good person's words will benefit many people, but you can kill yourself with stupidity.
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The lips of the righteous feed many, But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22 It is the Lord's blessing that makes you wealthy. Hard work can make you no richer.
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The blessing of Yahweh brings wealth, And he adds no trouble to it.
23 It is foolish to enjoy doing wrong. Intelligent people take pleasure in wisdom.
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It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.
24 The righteous get what they want, but the wicked will get what they fear most.
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What the wicked fear, will overtake them, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 Storms come, and the wicked are blown away, but honest people are always safe.
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When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
26 Never get a lazy person to do something for you; he will be as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.
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As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 Obey the Lord, and you will live longer. The wicked die before their time.
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The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hopes of good people lead to joy, but wicked people can look forward to nothing.
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The prospect of the righteous is joy, But the hope of the wicked will perish.
29 The Lord protects honest people, but destroys those who do wrong.
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The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30 Righteous people will always have security, but the wicked will not survive in the land.
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The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 Righteous people speak wisdom, but the tongue that speaks evil will be stopped.
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The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.
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The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.