Sermon Central
Proverbs 10-15
Proverbs of Solomon 1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
8The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
17Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
19Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
22The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
23A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
27The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced. 32The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
1The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of
8The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
9With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
16A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. 31If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
2Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
3No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised.
9Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
13Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
14From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
15The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
16Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
17An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.
18The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
21No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
25Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
26The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27The lazy do not roast
1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
2From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
4A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.
6Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
15Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.
16All who are prudent act with
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
21Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
24Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. 25The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
1The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
5An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
9Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.
14The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
22Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find
23All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
28A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
33Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.
34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. 35A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.
11Death and Destruction
12Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.
13A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.
27The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
31Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.
32Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. 33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.