1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
A. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
B.3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
C. 4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
D.5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
E.6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
F.8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
G.9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
F’.10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
E’.11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
D’.14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
C’.15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
B’. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
A’. 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
There is a similar structure, yet differing in certain respects, in the LXX (NETS translation). A,B, C are the same as Masoretic text. However there are parallel doublets in D terms. The doublets are set off from vs 1-4a by a marker verse that parallels vs 1 (marked by Xs below). “Found out” vs “deceitfully” are contrasted in the middle terms.
X vs1
A. vs2
B. vs3
C. vs4a
X vs4b-5
D1. vs6-7
2. vs8
E. vs9
E’ vs10
D1’ vs11-13
2’ vs14
C’ vs 15
B’ vs16
A’ vs17
Prov. 10:1
A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish son is a mother’s grief.
Prov. 10:2
Treasures shall not profit the lawless,
but righteousness shall deliver from death.
Prov. 10:3
The Lord will not let a righteous person starve,
but the life of the impious he will ruin.
Prov. 10:4
Poverty makes a man humble,
but the hands of the vigorous enrich.
A son who is instructed shall be wise,
and he will use the fool as a servant.
Prov. 10:5
An intelligent son was rescued from heat of the day,
but a transgressing son is blasted by the wind in harvest time.
Prov. 10:6
The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the impious will conceal untimely sorrow.
Prov. 10:7
The memory of the righteous comes with eulogies,
but the name of the impious is extinguished.
Prov. 10:8
A wise of heart will accept commandments,
but he who is unable to keep his mouth shut, being crooked,
will be tripped up.
Prov. 10:9
He who walks in integrity walks confidently,
but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Prov. 10:10
He who winks with his eyes deceitfully garners grief for men,
but he who reproves openly makes peace.
Prov. 10:11
A spring of life is in the hand of a righteous person,
but destruction covers the mouth of the impious.
Prov. 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife,
but friendship covers all who are not fond of strife.
Prov. 10:13
He who produces wisdom from his lips strikes a heartless man with a rod.
Prov. 10:14
The wise will conceal perception,
but the mouth of the reckless brings ruin near.
Prov. 10:15
The possessions of the rich are a strong city,
but poverty is the ruin of the impious.
Prov. 10:16
The deeds of the righteous produce life
but the fruits of the impious sins.
Prov. 10:17
Discipline guards the ways of a righteous life,
but unchastened instruction leads astray.