-
Proverbs
1The
proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2for attaining wisdom and
discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3for acquiring a
disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right
and just and fair;
4for
giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and
discretion to the young-
5let the wise listen and add to their
learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
6for understanding proverbs
and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7The
fear
of
the
Lord
is
the
beginning
of
knowledge, but
fools
despise
wisdom
and
discipline.
Exhortations to
Embrace Wisdom
8Listen, my
son, to your father's instruction and do not
forsake your mother's teaching.
9They will be a garland to grace your
head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice you, do not
give in to them.
11If
they
say,
along
with
us;
let's
lie
in
wait
for
someone's
blood,
let's
waylay
some
harmless soul;
12let's swallow them alive, like the
grave, and whole, like those who go down to the
pit;
13we will get all
sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with
plunder;
14throw in your
lot with us, and we will share a common
purse
15my son, do not go
along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16for their feet rush into
sin, they are swift to shed blood.
17How useless to spread a net in full
view of all the birds!
18These men lie in wait for their own
blood; they waylay only themselves!
19Such is the end of all who go after
ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those
who get it.
20Wisdom calls
aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the
public squares;
21at the
head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the
gateways of the city she makes her speech:
22
long
will
you
simple
ones
love
your
simple
ways?
How
long
will
mockers
delight
in
mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23If
you had
responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my
heart to
you and made my
thoughts known to you.
24But since you rejected me when I
called and no one gave heed when I stretched out
my hand,
25since you
ignored all my advice and would not accept my
rebuke,
26I in turn will
laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity
overtakes you-
27when
calamity
overtakes
you
like
a
storm,
when
disaster
sweeps
over
you
like
a
whirlwind,
when
distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28
29Since they
hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the
Lord ,
30since they would
not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
31they will eat the fruit
of their ways and be filled with the fruit of
their schemes.
32For the
waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the
complacency of fools will destroy
them;
33but whoever listens to me
will live in safety and be at ease, without fear
of harm.
2My son, if you
accept my words and store up my commands within
you,
2turning your ear to
wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3and if you call out for
insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4and if you look for it as
for silver and search for it as for hidden
treasure,
5then you will
understand the fear of the Lord and find the
knowledge of God.
6For the
Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come
knowledge and understanding.
7He holds victory in store for the
upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is
blameless,
8for he guards
the course of the just and protects the way of his
faithful ones.
9Then you
will understand what is right and just and fair-
every good path.
10For
wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will
be pleasant to your soul.
11Discretion will protect you, and
understanding will guard you.
12Wisdom will save you from the ways of
wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13who leave the straight
paths to walk in dark ways,
14who delight in doing wrong and
rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15whose paths are crooked and who are
devious in their ways.
16It
will save you also from the adulteress, from the
wayward wife with her seductive words,
17who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18For her house leads down
to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
20Thus you will walk in the ways of
good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21For the upright will live
in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22but the wicked will be
cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be
torn from it.
3My son, do
not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in
your heart,
2for they will
prolong your life many years and bring you
prosperity.
3Let love and
faithfulness never leave you; bind them around
your neck, write them on the tablet
of
your heart.
4Then you will
win favor and a good name in the sight of God and
man.
5Trust in the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding;
6in all your
ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths
straight.
7Do not be wise
in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
8This will bring health to
your body and nourishment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your
wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10then your barns will be
filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim
over with new wine.
11My
son, do not despise the Lord 's discipline and do
not resent his rebuke,
12because the Lord disciplines those he
loves, as a father the son he delights in.
13Blessed is the man who
finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
14for she is more
profitable than silver and yields better returns
than gold.
15She is more
precious than rubies; nothing you desire can
compare with her.
16Long
life is in her right hand; in her left hand are
riches and honor.
17Her
ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are
peace.
18She is a tree of
life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold
of her will be blessed.
19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's
foundations, by understanding he set the heavens
in place;
20by his
knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds
let drop the dew.
21My son,
preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not
let them out of your sight;
22they will be life for you, an
ornament to grace your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in
safety, and your foot will not stumble;
24when you lie down, you
will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep
will be sweet.
25Have no
fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that
overtakes the wicked,
26for
the Lord will be your confidence and will keep
your foot from being snared.
27Do not withhold good from those who
deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
28Do not say to your
neighbor,
with you.
29Do not plot harm against your
neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
30Do not accuse a man for
no reason- when he has done you no harm.
31Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,
32for the Lord detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33The Lord 's curse is on
the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home
of the righteous.
34He
mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
35The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.
4Listen, my sons, to a father's
instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,
4he taught me and said,
will live.
5Get
wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words
or swerve from them.
6Do
not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love
her, and she will watch over you.
7Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get
understanding.
8Esteem her,
and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will
honor you.
9She will set a
garland of grace on your head and present you with
a crown of splendor.
10Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11I guide you in the way of
wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps
will not be hampered; when you run, you will not
stumble.
13Hold on to
instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for
it is your life.
14Do not
set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the
way of evil men.
15Avoid
it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on
your way.
16For they cannot
sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of
slumber till they make someone fall.
17They eat the bread of wickedness and
drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the
first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till
the full light
of day.
19But the way of the wicked is like
deep darkness; they do not know what makes them
stumble.
20My son, pay
attention to what I say; listen closely to my
words.
21Do not let them
out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22for they are life to
those who find them and health to a man's whole
body.
23Above all else,
guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of
life.
24Put away perversity
from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your
lips.
25Let your eyes look
straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
26Make level paths for your
feet and take only ways that are firm.
27Do not swerve to the right or the
left; keep your foot from evil.
5My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
listen well to my words of insight,
2that you may maintain discretion and
your lips may preserve knowledge.
3For the lips of an adulteress drip
honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;
4but in the end she is
bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6She gives no thought to the way of
life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
7Now then, my sons, listen
to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
8Keep to a path far from
her, do not go near the door of her house,
9lest you give your best
strength to others and your years to one who is
cruel,
10lest strangers
feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another
man's house.
11At the end
of your life you will groan, when your flesh and
body are spent.
12You will
say,
13I would not obey my
teachers or listen to my instructors.
14I have come to the brink of utter
ruin in the midst of the whole
assembly.
15Drink water from
your own cistern, running water from your own
well.
16Should your springs
overflow in the streets, your streams of water in
the public squares?
17Let
them be yours alone, never to be shared with
strangers.
18May your
fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the
wife of your youth.
19A
loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts
satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated
by her love.
20Why be captivated, my son, by an
adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's
wife?
21For a man's ways
are in full view of the Lord , and he examines all
his paths.
22The evil deeds
of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin
hold him fast.
23He will
die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own
great folly.
6My son, if
you have put up security for your neighbor, if you
have struck hands in pledge for
another,
2if you
have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by
the words of your mouth,
3then do this, my son, to free
yourself, since you have fallen into your
neighbor's hands: Go and
humble
yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!
4Allow no sleep to your
eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the
hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of
the fowler.
6Go to the ant,
you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7It has no commander, no
overseer or ruler,
8yet it
stores its provisions in summer and gathers its
food at harvest.
9How long
will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you
get up from your sleep?
10A
little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding
of the hands to rest-
11and
poverty will come on you like a bandit and
scarcity like an armed man.
12A scoundrel and villain, who goes
about with a corrupt mouth,
13who winks with his eye, signals with
his feet and motions with his fingers,
14who plots evil with deceit in his
heart- he always stirs up dissension.
15Therefore
disaster
will
overtake
him
in
an
instant;
he
will
suddenly
be
destroyed-without
remedy.
16There
are six things the Lord hates, seven that are
detestable to him:
17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands
that shed innocent blood,
18a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
20My son, keep your
father's commands and do not forsake your mother's
teaching.
21Bind them upon
your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.
22When
you
walk,
they
will
guide
you;
when
you
sleep,
they
will
watch
over
you;
when
you
awake, they will speak to you.
23For these commands are a
lamp, this teaching is a light, and the
corrections of discipline are the
way
to life,
24keeping you from
the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the
wayward wife.
25Do not lust
in your heart after her beauty or let her
captivate you with her eyes,
26for the prostitute reduces you to a
loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your
very life.
27Can a man
scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being
burned?
28Can a man walk on
hot coals without his feet being scorched?
29So is he who sleeps with
another man's wife; no one who touches her will go
unpunished.
30Men do not
despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger
when he is starving.
31Yet
if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it
costs him all the wealth of his house.
32But a man who commits adultery lacks
judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33Blows and disgrace are
his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away;
34for jealousy arouses a
husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he
takes revenge.
35He will
not accept any compensation; he will refuse the
bribe, however great it is.
7My son, keep my words and store up my
commands within you.
2Keep
my commands and you will live; guard my teachings
as the apple of your eye.
3Bind them on your fingers; write them
on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom,
5they will keep you from the
adulteress, from the wayward wife with her
seductive words.
6At the
window of my house I looked out through the
lattice.
7I saw among the
simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who
lacked judgment.
8He was
going down the street near her corner, walking
along in the direction of her house
9at twilight, as the day was fading, as
the dark of night set in.
10Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11(She is loud and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12now in the street, now in the
squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
14
15So I came
out to meet you; I looked for you and have found
you!
16I have covered my
bed with colored linens from Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes and cinnamon.
18Come,
let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy
ourselves with love!
19My
husband is not at home; he has gone on a long
journey.
20He took his
purse filled with money and will not be home till
full moon.
21With persuasive
words she led him astray; she seduced him with her
smooth talk.
22All at once
he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
23till an arrow pierces his liver, like
a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it
will cost him his
life.
24Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay
attention to what I say.
25Do not let your heart turn to her
ways or stray into her paths.
26Many are the victims she has brought
down; her slain are a mighty throng.
27Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
8Does not wisdom call out? Does not
understanding raise her voice?
2On the heights along the way, where
the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3beside the gates leading into the
city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
4
5You who are simple, gain prudence; you
who are foolish, gain understanding.
6Listen, for I have worthy things to
say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
7My mouth speaks what is
true, for my lips detest wickedness.
8All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9To the discerning all of them are
right; they are faultless to those who have
knowledge.
10Choose my
instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather
than choice gold,
11for
wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing
you desire can compare with her.
12
13To fear the
Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.
15By me kings reign and rulers make
laws that are just;
16by me
princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
17I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
22
23I was
appointed from eternity, from the beginning,
before the world began.
24When
there
were
no
oceans,
I
was
given
birth,
when
there
were
no
springs
abounding
with
water;
25before
the mountains were settled in place, before the
hills, I was given birth,
26before he made the earth or its
fields or any of the dust of the world.
27I was there when he set
the heavens in place, when he marked out the
horizon on the face of the
deep,
28when he established the
clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of
the deep,
29when he gave
the sea its boundary so the waters would not
overstep his command, and when he
marked out the foundations of the
earth.
30Then I was the
craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight
day after day, rejoicing always in
his
presence,
31rejoicing in
his whole world and delighting in mankind.
32
33Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.
34Blessed
is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my
doors, waiting at my doorway.
35For whoever finds me finds life and
receives favor from the Lord .
36But whoever fails to find me harms
himself; all who hate me love death.
9Wisdom has built her house; she has
hewn out its seven pillars.
2She has prepared her meat and mixed
her wine; she has also set her table.
3She has sent out her maids, and she
calls from the highest point of the city.
4
5
6Leave your
simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of
understanding.
7
8Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate
you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9Instruct
a
wise
man
and
he
will
be
wiser
still;
teach
a
righteous
man
and
he
will
add
to
his
learning.
10
fear
of
the
Lord
is
the
beginning
of
wisdom,
and
knowledge
of
the
Holy
One
is
understanding.
11For through me your days will be
many, and years will be added to your life.
12If you are wise, your
wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you
alone will suffer.
13The
woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and
without knowledge.
14She
sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the
highest point of the city,
15calling out to those who pass by, who
go straight on their way.
16
17
18But little do they know that the dead
are there, that her guests are in the depths of
the grave.
10The
proverbs
of
Solomon:
A
wise
son
brings
joy
to
his
father,
but
a
foolish
son
grief
to
his
mother.
2Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3The Lord does not let the righteous go
hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4Lazy hands make a man
poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5He who gathers crops in summer is a
wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a
disgraceful
son.
6Blessings crown the head of the
righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of
the wicked.
7The memory of
the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of
the wicked will rot.
8The
wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering
fool comes to ruin.
9The
man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes
crooked paths will be found out.
10He who winks maliciously causes
grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11The
mouth
of
the
righteous
is
a
fountain
of
life,
but
violence
overwhelms
the
mouth
of
the
wicked.
12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love
covers over all wrongs.
13Wisdom
is
found
on
the
lips
of
the
discerning,
but
a
rod
is
for
the
back
of
him
who
lacks
judgment.
14Wise
men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool
invites ruin.
15The wealth
of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty
is the ruin of the poor.
16The
wages
of
the
righteous
bring
them
life,
but
the
income
of
the
wicked
brings
them
punishment.
17He
who
heeds
discipline
shows
the
way
to
life,
but
whoever
ignores
correction
leads
others
astray.
18He who
conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever
spreads slander is a fool.
19When words are many, sin is not
absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
20The tongue of the
righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the
wicked is of little value.
21The lips of the righteous nourish
many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
22The blessing of the Lord
brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
23A fool finds pleasure in
evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights
in wisdom.
24What the
wicked dreads will overtake him; what the
righteous desire will be granted.
25When the storm has swept by, the
wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm
forever.
26As vinegar to
the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard
to those who send him.
27The fear of the Lord adds length to
life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28The prospect of the
righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come
to nothing.
29The way of
the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is
the ruin of those who do evil.
30The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31The mouth of the
righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse
tongue will be cut out.
32The
lips
of
the
righteous
know
what
is
fitting,
but
the
mouth
of
the
wicked
only
what
is
perverse.
11The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but
accurate weights are his delight.
2When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright guides
them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their
duplicity.
4Wealth is
worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness
delivers from death.
5The
righteousness of the blameless makes a straight
way for them, but the wicked are brought
down by their own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the
upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are
trapped by evil desires.
7When a wicked man dies, his hope
perishes; all he expected from his power comes to
nothing.
8The righteous man
is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the
wicked instead.
9With his
mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but
through knowledge the righteous escape.
10When the righteous
prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked
perish, there are shouts of joy.
11Through
the
blessing
of
the
upright
a
city
is
exalted,
but
by
the
mouth
of
the
wicked
it
is
destroyed.
12A man who lacks judgment
derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding
holds his tongue.
13A
gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man
keeps a secret.
14For lack
of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make
victory sure.
15He who puts
up security for another will surely suffer, but
whoever refuses to strike hands in
pledge is safe.
16A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17A kind man benefits himself, but a
cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19The truly righteous man
attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his
death.
20The Lord detests
men of perverse heart but he delights in those
whose ways are blameless.
21Be sure of this: The wicked will not
go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go
free.
22Like a gold ring in
a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no
discretion.
23The desire of
the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of
the wicked only in wrath.
24One man gives freely, yet gains even
more; another withholds unduly, but comes to
poverty.
25A generous man
will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself
be refreshed.
26People
curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing
crowns him who is willing to sell.
27He who seeks good finds goodwill, but
evil comes to him who searches for it.
28Whoever trusts in his riches will
fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green
leaf.
29He who brings
trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and
the fool will be servant to the
wise.
30The fruit of the
righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls
is wise.
31If the righteous
receive their due on earth, how much more the
ungodly and the sinner!
12Whoever loves discipline loves
knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
2A good man obtains favor
from the Lord , but the Lord condemns a crafty
man.
3A man cannot be
established through wickedness, but the righteous
cannot be uprooted.
4A
wife
of
noble
character
is
her
husband's
crown,
but
a
disgraceful
wife
is
like
decay
in
his
bones.
5The
plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of
the wicked is deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait
for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues
them.
7Wicked men are
overthrown and are no more, but the house of the
righteous stands firm.
8A
man is praised according to his wisdom, but men
with warped minds are despised.
9Better to be a nobody and yet have a
servant than pretend to be somebody and have no
food.
10A righteous man
cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest
acts of the wicked are cruel.
11He who works his land will have
abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks
judgment.
12The wicked
desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of
the righteous flourishes.
13An evil man is trapped by his sinful
talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.
14From the fruit of his
lips a man is filled with good things as surely as
the work of his hands
rewards him.
15The way of a fool seems
right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
16A fool shows his
annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an
insult.
17A truthful
witness gives honest testimony, but a false
witness tells lies.
18Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips endure
forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20There is deceit in the
hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those
who promote peace.
21No
harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have
their fill of trouble.
22The Lord detests lying lips, but he
delights in men who are truthful.
23A prudent man keeps his knowledge to
himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.
24Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in slave labor.
25An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.
26A righteous man is cautious in
friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them
astray.
27The lazy man does
not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes
his possessions.
28In the
way of righteousness there is life; along that
path is immortality.
13A
wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a
mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2From
the
fruit
of
his
lips
a
man
enjoys
good
things,
but
the
unfaithful
have
a
craving
for
violence.
3He who guards his lips guards his
life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
4The sluggard craves and
gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are
fully satisfied.
5The
righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring
shame and disgrace.
6Righteousness guards the man of
integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7One man pretends to be
rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be
poor, yet has great wealth.
8A man's riches may ransom his life,
but a poor man hears no threat.
9The light of the righteous shines
brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed
out.
10Pride only breeds
quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take
advice.
11Dishonest money
dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by
little makes it grow.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13He who scorns instruction
will pay for it, but he who respects a command is
rewarded.
14The teaching of
the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from
the snares of death.
15Good
understanding wins favor, but the way of the
unfaithful is hard.
16Every
prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool
exposes his folly.
17A
wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a
trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18He
who
ignores
discipline
comes
to
poverty
and
shame,
but
whoever
heeds
correction
is
honored.
19A
longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools
detest turning from evil.
20He who walks with the wise grows
wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21Misfortune pursues the
sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the
righteous.
22A good man
leaves an inheritance for his children's children,
but a sinner's wealth is stored up
for
the righteous.
23A poor
man's field may produce abundant food, but
injustice sweeps it away.
24He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25The righteous eat to
their hearts' content, but the stomach of the
wicked goes hungry.
14The
wise woman builds her house, but with her own
hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2He whose walk is upright fears the
Lord , but he whose ways are devious despises him.
3A fool's talk brings a rod
to his back, but the lips of the wise protect
them.
4Where there are no
oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength
of an ox comes an abundant
harvest.
5A truthful witness does
not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6The mocker seeks wisdom
and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the
discerning.
7Stay away from
a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on
his lips.
8The wisdom of
the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but
the folly of fools is deception.
9Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
10Each heart knows its own
bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11The house of the wicked
will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright
will flourish.
12There is a
way that seems right to a man, but in the end it
leads to death.
13Even in
laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in
grief.
14The faithless will
be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man
rewarded for his.
15A
simple man believes anything, but a prudent man
gives thought to his steps.
16A wise man fears the Lord and shuns
evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17A quick-tempered man does
foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19Evil
men
will
bow
down
in
the
presence
of
the
good,
and
the
wicked
at
the
gates
of
the
righteous.
20The poor are shunned even
by their neighbors, but the rich have many
friends.
21He who despises
his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind
to the needy.
22Do
not
those
who
plot
evil
go
astray?
But
those
who
plan
what
is
good
find
love
and
faithfulness.
23All hard work brings a profit, but
mere talk leads only to poverty.
24The wealth of the wise is their
crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25A truthful witness saves
lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26He who fears the Lord has
a secure fortress, and for his children it will be
a refuge.
27The fear of the
Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the
snares of death.
28A large
population is a king's glory, but without subjects
a prince is ruined.
29A
patient man has great understanding, but a quick-
tempered man displays folly.
30A heart at peace gives life to the
body, but envy rots the bones.
31He who oppresses the poor shows
contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to
the needy
honors God.
32When
calamity
comes,
the
wicked
are brought down,
but
even
in
death
the
righteous
have
a
refuge.
33Wisdom reposes in the
heart of the discerning and even among fools she
lets herself be known.
34Righteousness exalts a nation, but
sin is a disgrace to any people.
35A king delights in a wise servant,
but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.
15A gentle answer turns
away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise
commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool
gushes folly.
3The eyes of
the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the
wicked and the good.
4The
tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but
a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns his father's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The
house
of
the
righteous
contains
great
treasure,
but
the
income
of
the
wicked
brings
them
trouble.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the
wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The Lord detests the way
of the wicked but he loves those who pursue
righteousness.
10Stern
discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who
hates correction will die.
11Death and Destruction lie open before
the Lord - how much more the hearts of men!
12A mocker resents
correction; he will not consult the wise.
13A happy heart makes the
face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart
seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on
folly.
15All the days of
the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart
has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the
Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a meal of vegetables where
there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered man stirs
up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard
is blocked with thorns, but the path of the
upright is a highway.
20A
wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish
man despises his mother.
21Folly delights a man who lacks
judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a
straight course.
22Plans
fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers
they succeed.
23A man finds
joy in giving an apt reply- and how good is a
timely word!
24The path of
life leads upward for the wise to keep him from
going down to the grave.
25The Lord tears down the proud man's
house but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact.
26The Lord detests the
thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are
pleasing to him.
27A greedy
man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates
bribes will live.
28The
heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the
mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The Lord is far from the wicked but
he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30A cheerful look brings joy to the
heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
31He who listens to a life-
giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.
32He who ignores discipline
despises himself, but whoever heeds correction
gains understanding.
33The
fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and
humility comes before honor.
16To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.
2All a man's ways seem
innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the
Lord .
3Commit to the Lord
whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4The Lord works out
everything for his own ends- even the wicked for a
day of disaster.
5The Lord
detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this:
They will not go unpunished.
6Through love and faithfulness sin is
atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man
avoids evil.
7When a man's
ways are pleasing to the Lord , he makes even his
enemies live at peace with him.
8Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
10The lips of a king speak as an
oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice.
11Honest scales and
balances are from the Lord all the weights in
the bag are of his making.
12Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne
is established through righteousness.
13Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
14A king's wrath is a messenger of
death, but a wise man will appease it.
15When a king's face brightens, it
means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in
spring.
16How much better
to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding
rather than silver!
17The
highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards
his way guards his life.
18Pride goes before destruction, a
haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better to be lowly in spirit and
among the oppressed than to share plunder with the
proud.
20Whoever gives heed
to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who
trusts in the Lord .
21The
wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant
words promote instruction.
22Understanding is a fountain of life
to those who have it, but folly brings punishment
to fools.
23A wise man's
heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote
instruction.
24Pleasant
words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and
healing to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a
man, but in the end it leads to death.
26The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.
27A scoundrel plots evil, and his
speech is like a scorching fire.
28A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
30He who winks with his eye
is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is
bent on evil.
31Gray hair
is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a
righteous life.
32Better a
patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his
temper than one who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap, but its
every decision is from the Lord .
17Better a dry crust with peace and
quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2A
wise
servant
will
rule
over
a
disgraceful
son,
and
will
share
the
inheritance
as
one
of
the
brothers.
3The crucible for silver and the
furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
4A wicked man listens to
evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious
tongue.
5He who mocks the
poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever
gloats over disaster will not