Wise Words and Good Choices: An Easy English Bible Study on Proverbs 10:16-32

This Bible study series uses simple words so everyone can understand and grow in faith. It is perfect for ESL students, homeschool children, families, and anyone who enjoys studying the Bible in easy English.

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Printable ERV Passage

Complete Set Of Worksheets

Discussion Questions

Theological Insights

10-Word Vocabulary List

20-Word Vocabulary list

Vocabulary Match Worksheet

Grammar Worksheet

Opposites Worksheet

Fill in the Blank Worksheet

Prayer Journal

Bible Translation Comparison Journal

Answer Keys

Lesson Icebreaker Question

When you are having a hard or stressful day, what is something comforting that you like to hear from a friend?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will explore Proverbs 10:16–32 to discover how our words and choices affect our daily lives.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Beginner level: Start with the Key Vocabulary Words (10 words) or check the A1 & A2 Level Lists for basic words.
Intermediate level: Look at the Important Words to Know (20 words) or practice with the B1 & B2 Level Lists. Highlight any words that are new to you!
Advanced level: Challenge yourself with the C1 Level List to learn higher-level vocabulary from this lesson.
All learners: Read the Bible passage! Use the Complete Lesson Word Bank to look up any word you need.

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

Accept (verb): To take or receive something willingly.
Blessing (noun): A good thing that brings happiness, help, or favor.
Life (noun): Being alive; the time a person lives.
Protect (verb): To keep someone or something safe from harm.
Respect (noun): A feeling of honor and care for someone or something.
Safe (adjective): Free from harm or danger.
Sin (noun): Doing something that goes against God’s law.
Trouble (noun): Problems, difficulty, or danger.
Wisdom (noun): Knowing and choosing what is right and good.
Wise (adjective): Having good judgment and making good choices.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

Accept (verb): To take or receive something willingly.
Blessing (noun): A good thing that brings happiness, help, or favor.
Destroy (verb): To break something completely so it cannot be used again.
Enjoy (verb): To get happiness from doing something.
Fear (noun): A feeling of being afraid.
Forever (adverb): For all time without ending.
Hope (noun or verb): To want something good to happen.
Lead (verb): To show others which way to go.
Lie (verb): To say something that is not true.
Life (noun): Being alive; the time a person lives.
Protect (verb): To keep someone or something safe from harm.
Quiet (adjective): Making little or no noise.
Respect (noun): A feeling of honor and care for someone or something.
Safe (adjective): Free from harm or danger.
Sin (noun): Doing something that goes against God’s law.
Stand strong (verb): To stay firm and not give up during hard times.
Trouble (noun): Problems, difficulty, or danger.
Wicked (adjective): Very bad or evil.
Wisdom (noun): Knowing and choosing what is right and good.
Wise (adjective): Having good judgment and making good choices.

Leveled Vocabulary Words (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1)

A1 Vocabulary Words (Beginner) (6 words)

Enjoy (verb): To get happiness from doing something.
Eye (noun): The part of the body used for seeing.
Quiet (adjective): Making little or no noise.
Silver (noun): A shiny, valuable metal.
Smoke (noun): The cloud that rises from a fire.
Teeth (noun): The hard white objects in the mouth used for biting and chewing.

A2 Vocabulary Words (Elementary) (13 words)

Accept (verb): To take or receive something willingly.
Defeat (verb): To win against someone or break their power.
Destroy (verb): To break something completely so it cannot be used again.
Fear (noun): A feeling of being afraid.
Forever (adverb): For all time without ending.
Hope (noun or verb): To want something good to happen.
Lazy (adjective): Not wanting to work or use effort.
Lead (verb): To show others which way to go.
Lie (verb): To say something that is not true.
Life (noun): Being alive; the time a person lives.
Protect (verb): To keep someone or something safe from harm.
Safe (adjective): Free from harm or danger.
Trouble (noun): Problems, difficulty, or danger.

B1 Vocabulary Words (Intermediate) (12 words)

Blessing (noun): A good thing that brings happiness, help, or favor.
Correction (noun): Help that shows someone how to fix a mistake or do better.
Cut short (verb): To end something sooner than expected.
Destruction (noun): Great damage or complete ruin.
Foolish (adjective): Silly or not showing good sense.
Fools (noun): People who act without wisdom or make poor choices.
Lack (noun): Not having enough of something.
Produce (verb): To make, create, or bring forth something.
Reject (verb): To refuse to accept or take something.
Respect (noun): A feeling of honor and care for someone or something.
Wealth (noun): A large amount of money or valuable possessions.
Wise (adjective): Having good judgment and making good choices.

B2 Vocabulary Words (Upper-Intermediate) (9 words)

Forced out (verb): Made to leave a place.
Hatred (noun): A strong feeling of disliking someone or something.
Irritating (adjective): Annoying or causing uncomfortable feelings.
Sin (noun): Doing something that goes against God’s law.
Stand strong (verb): To stay firm and not give up during hard times.
Vinegar (noun): A sour liquid used in cooking.
Wicked (adjective): Very bad or evil.
Wisdom (noun): Knowing and choosing what is right and good.
Worthless (adjective): Having no value or use.

C1 Vocabulary Words (Advanced) (1 word)

Troublemaker (noun): A person who often causes problems or conflict.

Complete Lesson Word Bank (41 words)

Accept (verb): To take or receive something willingly.
Blessing (noun): A good thing that brings happiness, help, or favor.
Correction (noun): Help that shows someone how to fix a mistake or do better.
Cut short (verb): To end something sooner than expected.
Defeat (verb): To win against someone or break their power.
Destroy (verb): To break something completely so it cannot be used again.
Destruction (noun): Great damage or complete ruin.
Enjoy (verb): To get happiness from doing something.
Eye (noun): The part of the body used for seeing.
Fear (noun): A feeling of being afraid.
Foolish (adjective): Silly or not showing good sense.
Fools (noun): People who act without wisdom or make poor choices.
Forced out (verb): Made to leave a place.
Forever (adverb): For all time without ending.
Hatred (noun): A strong feeling of disliking someone or something.
Hope (noun or verb): To want something good to happen.
Irritating (adjective): Annoying or causing uncomfortable feelings.
Lack (noun): Not having enough of something.
Lazy (adjective): Not wanting to work or use effort.
Lead (verb): To show others which way to go.
Lie (verb): To say something that is not true.
Life (noun): Being alive; the time a person lives.
Protect (verb): To keep someone or something safe from harm.
Produce (verb): To make, create, or bring forth something.
Quiet (adjective): Making little or no noise.
Reject (verb): To refuse to accept or take something.
Respect (noun): A feeling of honor and care for someone or something.
Safe (adjective): Free from harm or danger.
Silver (noun): A shiny, valuable metal.
Sin (noun): Doing something that goes against God’s law.
Smoke (noun): The cloud that rises from a fire.
Stand strong (verb): To stay firm and not give up during hard times.
Teeth (noun): The hard white objects in the mouth used for biting and chewing.
Trouble (noun): Problems, difficulty, or danger.
Troublemaker (noun): A person who often causes problems or conflict.
Vinegar (noun): A sour liquid used in cooking.
Wealth (noun): A large amount of money or valuable possessions.
Wicked (adjective): Very bad or evil.
Wisdom (noun): Knowing and choosing what is right and good.
Wise (adjective): Having good judgment and making good choices.
Worthless (adjective): Having no value or use.

Summary of the Passage

Proverbs 10:16–32 compares two different ways to live: the way of a good person who is righteous and the way of a very bad person who is wicked. This passage shows that our daily choices, actions, and spoken words have real results. Living a good life brings true safety, peace, and lasting hope. Choosing to do wrong leads to trouble and loss.

Many wise sayings in this book were written by King Solomon. Solomon was a famous king of ancient Israel who was known for his great wisdom. God gave Solomon special understanding so he could help his people make good choices. Solomon collected these wise sayings so future generations could learn how to live well. The main purpose of the Book of Proverbs is to teach everyday wisdom, good behavior, and respect for God.

This passage teaches that God cares deeply about how we live and speak every day. True wisdom begins when we honor God and listen to his rules. When we are humble, we accept correction so we can grow. Correction is helpful advice when we make a mistake. In contrast, foolish people reject advice and enjoy doing wrong, which causes trouble.

This passage also shows that our words can help or hurt others. Words from good people are like pure silver because they bring great value, comfort, and help to others. However, lies and unkind words cause harm and broken trust.

Finally, Proverbs reminds us that true success and safety come from God. Human hard work alone cannot bring lasting peace, but God’s blessing brings real good things to our lives. Even when hard times come like a sudden storm, God acts as a safe foundation for those who follow him, keeping them safe forever.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

16 What good people do brings life, but wicked people produce only sin.
17 Those who accept correction show others how to live. Those who reject correction lead others the wrong way.
18 People sometimes lie to hide their hatred, but saying bad things about someone is even more foolish.
19 A person who talks too much gets into trouble. A wise person learns to be quiet.
20 Words from good people are like pure silver, but thoughts from the wicked are worthless.
21 Good people say things that help others, but the wicked die from a lack of understanding.
22 It is the Lord’s blessing that brings wealth, and no hard work can add to it.
23 Fools enjoy doing wrong, but the wise enjoy wisdom.
24 The wicked will be defeated by what they fear, but good people will get what they want.
25 The wicked are destroyed when trouble comes, but good people stand strong forever.
26 Sending a lazy person to do anything is as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.
27 Respect for the Lord will add years to your life, but the wicked will have their lives cut short.
28 What good people hope for brings happiness, but what the wicked hope for brings destruction.
29 The Lord protects those who do right, but he destroys those who do wrong.
30 Good people will always be safe, but the wicked will be forced out of the land.
31 Those who live right say wise things, but people stop listening to troublemakers.
32 Good people know the right things to say, but the wicked say things to make trouble.
Proverbs 10:16-32 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Proverbs 10:16-32 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Proverbs 10:16-32 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Proverbs 10:16-32 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Proverbs 10:16-32 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Proverbs 10:16-32 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Proverbs 10:16-32 (ESV)

Printable ERV Passage

Bible Translation Comparison Journal

Discussion Questions

Choose one proverb that you like.
In that proverb, highlight any words you do not know. Look up their definitions.
What lesson is this proverb trying to teach?
Do you agree or disagree with this lesson?
If you agree, why is this lesson good for people?
If you disagree, why do you disagree?
Does your home culture have a similar proverb or saying? What is it?
Does your home culture have an opposite proverb or saying? What is it?
Repeat questions 1 through 8 for other proverbs you choose!
Looking at all the proverbs, are there any main themes that you notice?

Theological Insights

God cares about our actions and words.
True wisdom comes from respecting the Lord.
Righteousness leads to life, while sin leads to destruction.
God is the protector and safe foundation for good people.
God’s blessing is the real source of lasting success.
Humble people accept correction to learn and grow, but fools enjoy doing wrong and causing trouble.
Our words have the power to help or harm others.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
You are great, wise, and good to us every day.
We are sorry for the times we speak unkind words or make foolish choices.
Thank you for giving us your wisdom and keeping us safe.
Please help us speak kind words and follow your good rules today.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen!