PROVERBS 10

Solomon’s Proverbs

1These are the proverbs of Solomon: 

A wise son makes his father happy; a foolish one makes his mother sad.

2Wealth gained by doing wrong will not really help you, but doing right will save you from death. 

3The Lord takes care of good people and gives them the food they need, but he keeps the wicked from getting what they want. 

4Lazy hands will make you poor; hard-working hands will make you rich. 

5A son who works hard while it is harvest time will be successful, but one who sleeps through the harvest is worthless.

6People say good things about those who live right, but the words of the wicked only hide their violent plans.

7Good people leave memories that bless us, but the wicked are soon forgotten. 

8The wise accept instruction, but fools argue and bring trouble on themselves. 

9Honest people can always feel secure, but lying cheaters will be caught. 

10If you fail to speak the truth, trouble will follow. If you speak openly, peace will come.

11The words of good people are like a spring of fresh water, but the words of the wicked only hide their violent plans.

12Hatred causes arguments, but love overlooks all wrongs. 

13Intelligent people speak words of wisdom, but fools must be punished before they learn their lesson. 

14Wise people are quiet and learn new things, but fools talk and bring trouble on themselves.

15Wealth protects the rich, but poverty destroys the poor. 

16What good people do brings life, but wicked people produce only sin. 

17Those who accept correction show others how to live. Those who reject correction lead others the wrong way. 

18People sometimes lie to hide their hatred, but saying bad things about someone is even more foolish. 

19A person who talks too much gets into trouble. A wise person learns to be quiet. 

20Words from good people are like pure silver, but thoughts from the wicked are worthless.

21Good people say things that help others, but the wicked die from a lack of understanding. 

22It is the Lord’S blessing that brings wealth, and no hard work can add to it. 

23Fools enjoy doing wrong, but the wise enjoy wisdom. 

24The wicked will be defeated by what they fear, but good people will get what they want. 

25The wicked are destroyed when trouble comes, but good people stand strong forever. 

26Sending a lazy person to do anything is as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.

27Respect for the Lord will add years to your life, but the wicked will have their lives cut short. 

28What good people hope for brings happiness, but what the wicked hope for brings destruction.

29The Lord protects those who do right, but he destroys those who do wrong.

30Good people will always be safe, but the wicked will be forced out of the land. 

31Those who live right say wise things, but people stop listening to troublemakers. 

32Good people know the right things to say, but the wicked say things to make trouble.

SUBMISSION TO GOVERNING AUTHORITIES

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

ABOUT RULERS IN THE BIBLE

JOB 34:23-30 (KJV)

2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

² The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
³ Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
⁴ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
⁶ Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
⁷ I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
¹⁰ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 ²¹ “For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.

²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

²³ For He will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgment with God.

²⁴ He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

²⁵ Therefore He knoweth their works, and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,

²⁷ because they turned back from Him, and would not consider any of His ways,

²⁸ so that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹ When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him, whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only?—

³⁰ that the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Psalm 2  (KJV)

2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

² The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
³ Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
⁴ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
⁶ Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
⁷ I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
¹⁰ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Proverbs 6:16-19King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 29:2 (KJV)

² When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.