Proverbs 10 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
10th century BC (~970-930 BC), during the reign of King Solomon
Location
Jerusalem, in the united Kingdom of Israel
Audience
The people of Israel, particularly young men and Solomon's son, receiving instruction in wisdom
Situation
Proverbs 10 begins a major collection of 375 short, antithetical proverbs attributed to Solomon, contrasting the wise/righteous with the foolish/wicked.
Key Background
The Book of Proverbs is Hebrew wisdom literature emphasizing practical living rooted in the fear of the Lord. Attributed primarily to Solomon, renowned for his wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34), these proverbs were likely compiled to teach moral discernment and godly conduct. Chapter 10 marks a shift from extended discourses to concise, memorable sayings for everyday application.
The of Solomon: A son makes his father glad, but a son is a grief to his mother.
Wealth gained through is worthless, but is what saves you from death.
won't let someone who does go hungry, but he pushes away what the are craving.
hands make you poor, but the hands of someone who build wealth.
Someone who is smart; someone who sleeps through harvest is an
come to those who do right, but violence hides behind what the corrupt say.
When people remember someone who did right, it's a good thing; but the of the corrupt rots away.
Someone with a takes direction, but a is headed for ruin.
Whoever lives with walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will eventually get caught.
Someone who with stirs up trouble, and a loudmouth fool is headed for ruin.
What a good person says is a of life, but violence hides behind what the corrupt say.
Hatred stirs up conflict, but all offenses.
Wisdom is found on the lips of someone who it, but a is what's coming for the back of someone who doesn't.
Wise people up knowledge, but when a fool opens his mouth, disaster is right around the corner.
A rich person's wealth is like a city; what ruins the poor is their poverty.
The of someone who does right lead to life; the income of a corrupt person leads to more
Whoever takes is on the road to life, but whoever ignores a rebuke wanders off course.
Whoever hides their hatred is a liar, and whoever spreads is a fool.
When there are a lot of words, is inevitable; but whoever their is wise.
What a good person says is like silver; the of a corrupt person isn't worth much.
What a good person says many, but fools die for lack of
Yahweh's — that's what makes someone wealthy, and he adds no to it.
Doing evil is like to a fool, but is the pleasure of someone who understands.
What the corrupt person — that's what will come to them; but what someone good desires will be given to them.
When the passes, the corrupt are gone; but someone who does right stands on an
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes — that's what a is to anyone who sends them on an errand.
adds years to your life, but the years of the corrupt are cut short.
What people who do right for ends in joy; but what the corrupt expect comes to nothing.
The of is a for someone with integrity, but it's the ruin of those who do wrong.
Someone who does right will never be uprooted, but the corrupt won't last long in the
The mouth of someone who does right wisdom, but a will be cut off.
The lips of someone who does right know fitting, but the mouth of the corrupt speaks only