18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted. 25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.

27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. 28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. 30 The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced. 32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Other Translations of Proverbs 10:18-32

King James Version

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. of wisdom: Heb. of heart

22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth prolongeth: Heb. addeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. frowardness: Heb. frowardnesses

English Standard Version

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.Or and toil adds nothing to it

23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.

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

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. 28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

The Message

18 Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander.

19 The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.

20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless. 21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many, but chatterboxes die of an empty heart. Fear-of-God Expands Your Life

22 God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.

23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom.

24 The nightmares of the wicked come true; what the good people desire, they get. 25 When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.

26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.

27 The Fear-of-God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life. 28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash.

29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance. 30 Good people last - they can't be moved; the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.

31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp. 32 The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.

New King James Version

18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy man to those who send him.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

New Living Translation

18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.

19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. 21 The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted. 25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26 Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one's life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. 28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. 30 The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.

31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. 32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 10:18-32

Commentary on Proverbs 10:18

(Read Proverbs 10:18)

He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:19

(Read Proverbs 10:19)

Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise man, and therein consults his own peace.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:20-21

(Read Proverbs 10:20-21)

The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:22

(Read Proverbs 10:22)

That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:23

(Read Proverbs 10:23)

Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:24

(Read Proverbs 10:24)

The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:25

(Read Proverbs 10:25)

The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:26

(Read Proverbs 10:26)

As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes to smart, so the sluggard vexes his employer.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:27-28

(Read Proverbs 10:27-28)

What man is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:29

(Read Proverbs 10:29)

The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:30

(Read Proverbs 10:30)

The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die and leave all their idols behind.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:31-32

(Read Proverbs 10:31-32)

A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.