Moff PROV Chapter 10

10 

Maxims of Solomon.

A sensible son is a joy to his father,

but a senseless son is a grief to his mother.

2 

Ill-gotten gains are never a profit:

’tis honesty that ensures life for man.

3 

The Eternal never stints an honest man:

he thwarts the craving of dishonest men.

4 

A slack hand makes men poor:

a busy hand makes men rich.

5 

He who reaps in summer is a man of sense:

he who sleeps through harvest does a shameful thing.

6 

God’s blessing is upon the good man’s head,

but the bad man’s face shall be darkened with disaster.

7 

The memory of the upright is blessed,

but cursed shall be the name of wicked men.

8 

A man of sense defers to authority:

a silly chatterer comes to grief.

9 

The upright life is safe and sure,

but crooked courses shall fare badly.

10 

He makes trouble who winks maliciously:

a frank rebuke will make for peace.

11 

The talk of good men is a life-giving fountain:

the talk of bad men overflows with harm.

12 

Hatred stirs up strife:

love draws a veil over all wrongdoing.

13 

Good sense is on the lips of the intelligent,

but folly lies in the talk of senseless men.

14 

Sensible men are reticent,

but a fool’s babbling will bring trouble down.

15 

A rich man’s wealth is his protection,

but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16 

A good man’s earnings lead to prosperity:

a bad man’s gain is the undoing of him.

17 

He who accepts advice is safe:

he who will not be warned is in danger.

18 

The good man will not vent his hate;

and he is a fool who spreads a slander.

19 

Where words abound, sin is not wanting:

he who controls his tongue is a wise man.

20 

Good men’s talk is like rare silver:

a bad man’s views are little worth.

21 

The words of good men will make many wise,

but a fool’s lack of sense is death to himself.

22 

’Tis the Eternal’s blessing that brings wealth,

and never does it bring trouble as well.

23 

Wrongdoing is the fool’s delight,

but to a man of sense it is disgusting.

24 

Whatever a bad man fears will befall him,

but a good man’s repose will last for ever.

25 

When the storm sweeps by, the wicked are gone,

but the just are rooted forever.

26 

As vinegar to the teeth, as smoke in the eyes,

so is a sluggard to those who give him a message.

27 

Reverence for the Eternal is the prolonging of life,

but the years of evil men are shortened.

28 

The hopes of good men end in bliss:

bad men lose what they look for.

29 

For the upright the Eternal is a fortress,

but he is the ruin of evil-doers.

30 

Good men will never be displaced,

but the wicked have no footing in the land.

31 

The talk of good men puts forth buds of wisdom,

but men of false tongue shall be felled.

32 

The speech of good men is a breath of pleasure,

but bad men talking breathe out malice.