The Beginning of Knowledge
PROVERBS 1 [†] a The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2[†] To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in b righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to c the simple,
knowledge and d discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and e increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
f the words of the wise and their g riddles.
7[†] h The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Enticement of Sinners
8[†] i Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are j a graceful garland for your head
and k pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners l entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, m let us lie in wait for blood;
n let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us o swallow them alive,
and whole, like p those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, q do not walk in the way with them;
r hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for s their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17[†] t For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men u lie in wait for their own blood;
they u set an ambush for their own lives.
19 v Such are the ways of everyone who is w greedy for unjust gain;
x it takes away the life of its possessors.
The Call of Wisdom
20[†] y Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at z the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O a simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will b scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools c hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof, [1]
behold, I will d pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 e Because I have called and f you refused to listen,
have g stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have h ignored all my counsel
and i would have none of my reproof,
26 I also j will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when k terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like l a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 m Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they c hated knowledge
and n did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 h would have none of my counsel
and i despised all my reproof,
31[†] therefore they shall eat o the fruit of their way,
and have p their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by q their turning away,
and r the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but s whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be t at ease, without dread of disaster.”
The Value of Wisdom
PROVERBS 2 [†] u My son, v if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice w for understanding,
4 if you seek it like x silver
and search for it as for y hidden treasures,
5[†] then z you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For a the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is b a shield to those who c walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and d watching over the way of his e saints.
9[†] f Then you will understand g righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 h discretion will i watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to j walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who k rejoice in doing evil
and l delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose m paths are crooked,
n and who are o devious in their ways.
16[†] So p you will be delivered from the forbidden [1] woman,
from q the adulteress [2] with r her smooth words,
17 who forsakes s the companion of her youth
and forgets t the covenant of her God;
18 u for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed; [3]
19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.
20 So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21[†] For the upright v will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be w cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be x rooted out of it.
Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart
PROVERBS 3 y My son, do not forget my teaching,
z but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for a length of days and years of life
and b peace they will add to you.
3[†] Let not c steadfast love and d faithfulness forsake you;
e bind them around your neck;
f write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will g find favor and h good success [1]
in the sight of God and man.
5[†] i Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and j do not lean on your own understanding.
6[†] In all your ways k acknowledge him,
and he l will make straight your paths.
7 m Be not wise in your own eyes;
n fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be o healing to your flesh [2]
and p refreshment [3] to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with q the firstfruits of all your produce;
10[†] then your r barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11[†] s My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as t a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 u Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 v for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than w gold.
15 She is more precious than x jewels,
and y nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 z Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are a riches and honor.
17[†] Her b ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18[†] She is c a tree of life to those who d lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19[†] e The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding e he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge f the deeps broke open,
and g the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, h do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be i life for your soul
and j adornment for your neck.
23 k Then you will walk on your way securely,
l and your foot will not stumble.
24 m If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, n your sleep will be sweet.
25 o Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of p the ruin [4] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will q keep your foot from being caught.
27 r Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, [5]
when it is in your power to do it.
28 s Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 t Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who u dwells trustingly beside you.
30 v Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 w Do not envy x a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for y the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
but the upright are z in his confidence.
33 a The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he b blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the c scorners he d is scornful,
e but to the humble he gives favor. [6]
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get [7] disgrace.
A Father’s Wise Instruction
PROVERBS 4 f Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may g gain [1] insight,
2 for I give you good h precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3[†] When I was a son with my father,
i tender, j the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he k taught me and said to me,
l “Let your heart hold fast my words;
m keep my commandments, and live.
5 n Get wisdom; get g insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
o love her, and she will guard you.
7[†] p The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get g insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will q honor you r if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head s a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10[†] f Hear, t my son, and accept my words,
that u the years of your life may be many.
11 I have v taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, w your step will not be hampered,
and x if you run, you will not stumble.
13 y Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your z life.
14[†] a Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they b cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
c and drink the wine of violence.
18[†] But d the path of the righteous is like e the light of dawn,
which shines f brighter and brighter until g full day.
19 h The way of the wicked is like deep i darkness;
they do not know over what they j stumble.
20[†] k My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 l Let them not escape from your sight;
m keep them within your heart.
22 For they are n life to those who find them,
and healing to all their [2] flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for o from it flow p the springs of life.
24[†] Put away from you q crooked speech,
and put r devious talk far from you.
25[†] s Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 t Ponder [3] the path of your feet;
u then all your ways will be sure.
27 v Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Warning Against Adultery
PROVERBS 5 w My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
x incline your ear to my understanding,
2[†] that you may keep y discretion,
and your lips may z guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of a a forbidden [1] woman drip honey,
and her speech [2] is b smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is c bitter as d wormwood,
e sharp as f a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet g go down to death;
her steps follow the path to [3] Sheol;
6 she h does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.
7[†] And i now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
9[†] lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your j labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you k groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, l “How I hated discipline,
and my heart m despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 n I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”
15[†] Drink o water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your p springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water q in the streets?
17 r Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18[†] Let your o fountain be blessed,
and s rejoice in t the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely u deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts v fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated [4] always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with w a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of w an adulteress? [5]
21[†] For x a man’s ways are y before the eyes of the LORD,
and he z ponders [6] all his paths.
22 The a iniquities of the wicked b ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23 c He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is d led astray.
Practical Warnings
PROVERBS 6 [†] My son, if you have put up e security for your neighbor,
have e given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are f snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
3[†] then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, [1] and g plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 h Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, [2]
i like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 j Go to k the ant, O l sluggard;
consider her ways, and m be wise.
7[†] n Without having any chief,
o officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread p in summer
and q gathers her food in harvest.
9 r How long will you lie there, l O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10[†] s A little sleep, a little slumber,
t a little s folding of the hands to rest,
11[†] u and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
12[†] v A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with w crooked speech,
13 x winks with his eyes, signals [3] with his feet,
points with his finger,
14 with y perverted heart z devises evil,
continually a sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
b in a moment he will be broken c beyond healing.
16[†] There are d six things that the LORD hates,
d seven that are an abomination to him:
17 e haughty eyes, f a lying tongue,
and g hands that shed innocent blood,
18 h a heart that devises wicked plans,
i feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 j a false witness who k breathes out lies,
and one who a sows discord among brothers.
Warnings Against Adultery
20[†] l My son, keep your father’s commandment,
l and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 m Bind them on your heart always;
n tie them around your neck.
22 o When you walk, they [4] will lead you;
o when you lie down, they will p watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is q a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the r reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from the evil woman, [5]
from the smooth tongue of s the adulteress. [6]
25 t Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her u eyelashes;
26[†] for v the price of a prostitute is only w a loaf of bread, [7]
but a married woman [8] x hunts down a precious life.
27[†] Can a man carry y fire next to his z chest
and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one a walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
none who touches her b will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to c satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 but d if he is caught, he will pay e sevenfold;
he will give all the goods of his house.
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor,
and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For f jealousy makes a man furious,
and he will not spare when g he takes revenge.
35[†] He will accept no compensation;
he will refuse though you multiply gifts.
Warning Against the Adulteress
PROVERBS 7 h My son, keep my words
and h treasure up my commandments with you;
2 i keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as j the apple of your eye;
3 k bind them on your fingers;
k write them on the tablet of your heart.
4[†] Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from l the forbidden [1] woman,
from l the adulteress [2] with her smooth words.
6[†] For at m the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among n the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man o lacking sense,
8 passing along the street p near her corner,
taking the road to her house
9 in q the twilight, in the evening,
at r the time of night and darkness.
10 And behold, the woman meets him,
s dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. [3]
11[†] She is t loud and u wayward;
v her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market,
and w at every corner she x lies in wait.
13[†] She seizes him and kisses him,
and with y bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to z offer sacrifices, [4]
and today I have a paid my vows;
15 so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with b coverings,
colored linens from c Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with d myrrh,
aloes, and e cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For f my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
20 he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”
21 With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with g her smooth talk she compels him.
22 All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast [5]
23 till an arrow pierces its liver;
as h a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24[†] And i now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,
26[†] for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are j a mighty throng.
27 Her house is k the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
The Blessings of Wisdom
PROVERBS 8 Does not l wisdom call?
Does not m understanding raise her voice?
2 On n the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside o the gates in front of p the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O q men, I call,
and my cry is to q the children of man.
5[†] O r simple ones, learn s prudence;
O t fools, learn sense.
6[†] Hear, for I will speak u noble things,
and from my lips will come v what is right,
7 for my w mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing x twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all y straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 z Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 a for wisdom is better than jewels,
and b all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and c discretion.
13[†] d The fear of the LORD is e hatred of evil.
f Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and g perverted speech I hate.
14[†] I have h counsel and i sound wisdom;
I have insight; j I have strength.
15 By me k kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly. [1]
17 l I love those who love me,
and m those who seek me diligently find me.
18[†] n Riches and honor are with me,
o enduring wealth and o righteousness.
19 My fruit is p better than q gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than r choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
22[†] s “The LORD t possessed [2] me at the beginning of his work, [3]
the first of his acts u of old.
23 Ages ago I was v set up,
at the first, w before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no x depths I was y brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains z had been shaped,
a before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he b established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew c a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he d made firm the skies above,
when he established [4] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he e assigned to the sea its f limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out g the foundations of the earth,
30 then h I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his [5] i delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 j rejoicing in his k inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32[†] “And now, l O sons, listen to me:
m blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 n Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 o Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For p whoever finds me q finds life
and r obtains favor from the LORD,
36 but he who fails to find me s injures himself;
all who t hate me u love death.”
The Way of Wisdom
PROVERBS 9 [†] v Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her w seven x pillars.
2 She has y slaughtered her beasts; she has z mixed her wine;
she has also a set her table.
3 She has b sent out her young women to c call
from d the highest places in the town,
4[†] e “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
f To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, g eat of my bread
and h drink of z the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave i your simple ways, [1] and j live,
k and walk in the way of insight.”
7[†] Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 l Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
m reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction [2] to a wise man, and he will be n still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will o increase in learning.
10[†] p The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and q the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me r your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12[†] s If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
The Way of Folly
13 t The woman Folly is u loud;
she is seductive [3] and v knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on w the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are x going straight on their way,
16 y “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 z “Stolen water is sweet,
and a bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18[†] But he does not know b that the dead [4] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
The Proverbs of Solomon
PROVERBS 10 [†] c The proverbs of Solomon.
d A wise son makes a glad father,
e but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
2 f Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
g but righteousness delivers from death.
3 h The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
i but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4[†] A slack hand j causes poverty,
k but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who l gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is m a son who brings shame.
6[†] Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but n the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 o The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but p the name of the wicked will rot.
8 q The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
9 r Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked s will be found out.
10 Whoever t winks the eye causes trouble,
and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 u The mouth of the righteous is v a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked n conceals violence.
12[†] Hatred stirs up strife,
but w love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but x a rod is for the back of him who y lacks sense.
14 The wise z lay up knowledge,
but a the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15[†] b A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16 The wage of the righteous leads c to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on d the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19 e When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
f but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is g choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for h lack of sense.
22[†] i The blessing of the LORD makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it. [1]
23 Doing wrong is j like a joke to a fool,
but k wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 l What the wicked dreads m will come upon him,
but n the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When o the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but p 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[†] q The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
r but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 s The hope of the righteous brings joy,
t but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 u The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
30[†] v The righteous will never be removed,
but w the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31[†] x The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous y know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, z what is perverse.
PROVERBS 11 [†] a A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
b but a just weight is his delight.
2 c When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with d the humble is wisdom.
3 e The integrity of the upright guides them,
f but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 g Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
h but righteousness delivers from death.
5[†] The righteousness of the blameless i keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 h The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous j are taken captive by their lust.
7[†] When the wicked dies, his k hope will perish,
and l the expectation of wealth [1] perishes too.
8 m The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9[†] With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 n When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but o by the mouth of the wicked p it is overthrown.
12[†] Whoever q belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever r goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where there is s no guidance, a people falls,
s but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15[†] t Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16[†] u A gracious woman gets honor,
and v violent men get riches.
17 w A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who x sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness y will live,
but z he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of a crooked heart are b an abomination to the LORD,
but those of c blameless ways are d his delight.
21 e Be assured, f an evil person will not go unpunished,
but g the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like h a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23[†] The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
i the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24[†] j One gives k freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 l Whoever brings blessing m will be enriched,
and n one who waters will himself be watered.
26 o The people curse him who holds back grain,
but p a blessing is on the head of him who q sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, [2]
but evil comes to r him who searches for it.
28 Whoever s trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will t flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever u troubles his own household will v inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30[†] The fruit of the righteous is w a tree of life,
and whoever x captures souls is wise.
31 If y the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
PROVERBS 12 [†] Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who z hates reproof is a stupid.
2 A good man b obtains favor from the LORD,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3 No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of c the righteous will never be moved.
4[†] d An excellent wife is e the crown of her husband,
but she who f brings shame is like g rottenness in his bones.
5[†] h The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked i lie in wait for blood,
but j the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 k The wicked are l overthrown and are no more,
m but the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is n despised.
9[†] Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 o Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 p Whoever works his land q will have plenty of bread,
r but he who follows s worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12[†] Whoever is wicked covets t the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared u by the transgression of his lips,
v but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth w a man is satisfied with good,
x and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15[†] y The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16[†] z The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 a Whoever speaks [1] the truth gives honest evidence,
but b a false witness utters deceit.
18[†] c There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings d healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but e a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of f those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21 g No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 h Lying lips are i an abomination to the LORD,
j but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 k A prudent man conceals knowledge,
k but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 l The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be m put to forced labor.
25 n Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, [2]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 o Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth. [3]
28 p In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
PROVERBS 13 [†] A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but q a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man r eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous s is for violence.
3 t Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
u he who opens wide his lips v comes to ruin.
4 w The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent x is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame [1] and disgrace.
6 y Righteousness guards him whose z way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 a One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
b another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man c hears no threat.
9[†] d The light of the righteous rejoices,
but e the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 f By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11[†] g Wealth gained hastily [2] will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
h but a desire fulfilled is i a tree of life.
13 Whoever j despises k the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be l rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is m a fountain of life,
that one may n turn away from the snares of death.
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. [3]
16 q In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,
r but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but s a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who t ignores instruction,
u but whoever v heeds reproof is honored.
19 w A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 x Disaster [4] pursues sinners,
y but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22[†] z A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but a the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23[†] The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through b injustice.
24[†] c Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. [5]
25 d The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
PROVERBS 14 [†] e The wisest of women f builds her house,
but folly with her own hands g tears it down.
2 Whoever h walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is i devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes j a rod for his back, [1]
k but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4[†] Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5[†] l A faithful witness does not lie,
but m a false witness breathes out lies.
6 n A scoffer seeks wisdom o in vain,
but p knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8[†] The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9[†] q Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance. [2]
10 The heart knows its own r bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 s The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 t There is a way that seems right to a man,
but u its end is the way to death. [3]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and v the end of joy may be w grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be x filled with the fruit of his ways,
and y a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 z The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 a One who is wise is cautious [4] and b turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of c quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 d The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20[†] e The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
f but the rich has many friends.
21[†] Whoever g despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but h blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who i devise evil?
Those who devise good meet [5] j steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk k tends only to poverty.
24[†] The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who l breathes out lies is deceitful.
26[†] In the fear of the LORD one has m strong confidence,
and n his children will have o a refuge.
27[†] The fear of the LORD is p a fountain of life,
that one may q turn away from the snares of death.
28[†] In r a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is s slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil [6] heart gives t life to the flesh,
but u envy [7] makes v the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man w insults his x Maker,
y but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 z The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but a the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom b rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. [8]
34[†] Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has c the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
PROVERBS 15 [†] d A soft answer turns away wrath,
but e a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but f the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3[†] g The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 h A gentle [1] tongue is i a tree of life,
but j perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5[†] k A fool l despises his father’s instruction,
but m whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 n The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
n not so the hearts of fools. [2]
8[†] o The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but p the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but he loves him q who pursues righteousness.
10 There is r severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
s whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
how much more t the hearts of the children of man!
12 u A scoffer v does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13[†] w A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by x sorrow of heart the spirit is y crushed.
14 z The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but a the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16[†] b Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 c Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than d a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 e A hot-tempered man f stirs up strife,
but he who is g slow to anger quiets contention.
19[†] The way of h a sluggard is like a hedge of i thorns,
but the path of the upright is j a level highway.
20[†] k A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 l Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding m walks straight ahead.
22 n Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and o a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward p for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25[†] The LORD tears down the house of q the proud
but r maintains s the widow’s boundaries.
26 t The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
but u gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is v greedy for unjust gain w troubles his own household,
but he who hates x bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous y ponders how to answer,
but z the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The LORD is a far from the wicked,
but he b hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 c The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and d good news refreshes [3] the bones.
31 e The ear that listens to f life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever g ignores instruction h despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof i gains intelligence.
33 j The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
and k humility comes before honor.