Proverbs 10

This chapter gives you some quick nuggets of wisdom.

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

Part of being wise is learning how to make your parents proud of you.

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

Don’t acquire wealth through unscrupulous means.

3 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, but He will reject the craving of the wicked.

Do what is right, and let God meet your needs. He will not hold back from you what is good for you.

4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Do an excellent job in everything you do.

5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

Plan for the future.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Say things that will lift others, not things that will destroy them.

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

People will remember you if you did the good things to them.

8 The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined.

Don’t talk too much; instead, pay attention to what others are saying. Someone may be saying something helpful to you, and you don’t want to miss that.

9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Always do what is right. Then you don’t have to worry about getting caught.

10 He who winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will be ruined.

Don’t do things in an underhanded way and cover it by saying a lot of nonsense.

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

You are doing the right thing if you are saying helpful things. However, if you are speaking because you want to hide the evil in our mind then you are a wicked person.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.

If you love someone you will overlook their shortcomings.

13 On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.

Listen to people who can analyze the situation well. If you don’t take the time to understand things then you are likely to be taken advantage of.

14 Wise men store up knowledge, but with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

Spend time being in the know, but listen to those who are in the know, not just anybody.

15 The rich man's wealth is his fortress, the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

Money can make your life easier when disaster hits.

16 The wages of the righteous is life, the income of the wicked, punishment.

If you keep doing what is right you will turn out good. If you keep doing what is bad you will end up in trouble.

17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.

Listen to people who correct you; it can save you from disaster.

18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.

If you don’t like someone, stop hanging out with them. If you keep hanging out with people you don’t like, while pretending to like them, but secretly waiting for some evil to happen to them, then you are living a lie.

A wise person doesn’t tell anyone another person’s shortcomings.

19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Speak only when necessary.

20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little.

A person who can speak wisely is of great value.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of understanding.

If you don’t spread wisdom, people will suffer.

22 It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.

When God gives you money, it doesn’t come with pain. If you gain money unrighteous, it will bring pain.

23 Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

What you enjoy doing is a reflection of who you are.

24 What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Do what is right and you will see an eternal reward.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.

Don’t hire lazy people. Don’t depend on them either.

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.

Your foolishness can be the end of you. So, don’t be a fool.

28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes.

When you do what is right, you sow the seeds of happiness.

29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.

God protects those who do what is right but brings to ruin those who do what is wrong.

30 The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

If you do what is right you will receive its value.

31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out.

A person who does what is right will accumulate wisdom.

32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

Generally, the right thing to do is to say what people can accept. If you say what people cannot accept you will start an argument.