Read | Proverbs 10:1–21
Solomon’s proverbs:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.
Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,
but righteousness rescues from death.
The LORD will not let the righteous go hungry,
but he denies the wicked what they crave.
Idle hands make one poor,
but diligent hands bring riches.
The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
A wise heart accepts commands,
but foolish lips will be destroyed.
The one who lives with integrity lives securely,
but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.
A sly wink of the eye causes grief,
and foolish lips will be destroyed.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Hatred stirs up conflicts,
but love covers all offenses.
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.
The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.
The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
The reward of the righteous is life;
the wages of the wicked is punishment.
The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray.
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is prudent.
The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little value.
The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
After reading all of these proverbs, pick one or two that stand out to you. What would it look like to put that wisdom into practice today?
Focus
Listen to this song which takes the words, themes, and ideas from this passage and its broader book and makes them like a prayer put to music: Christ Our Wisdom (Official Video)
Pray
Craft your own prayer based on today’s Scripture passage, and what you’ve learned about praying Scripture this week and from the song today. Consider reading the passage out loud, then pause and pray, putting this Scripture into your own words.
Using Scripture to pray can vocalize what’s in our hearts when words are hard to find. It can help us pray about the experiences we often avoid talking about but the Bible doesn’t. Using the words of Scripture in prayer can align our minds, hearts, and wills with God.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.