The Book of
PROVERBS
The Beginning of Knowledge
1The aproverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction,
To 1perceive the words of understanding,
3To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4To give prudence to the bsimple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5c A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will 2attain wise counsel,
6To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their driddles.
7e The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Shun Evil Counsel
8f My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9For they will be a ggraceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice you,
h Do not consent.
11If they say, “Come with us,
Let us ilie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12Let us swallow them alive like 3Sheol,
And whole, jlike those who go down to the Pit;
13We shall find all kinds of precious 4possessions,
We shall fill our houses with 5spoil;
14Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15My son, kdo not walk in the way with them,
l Keep your foot from their path;
16m For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17Surely, in 6vain the net is spread
In the sight of any 7bird;
18But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19n So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.
The Call of Wisdom
20o Wisdom calls aloud 8outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21She cries out in the 9chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22“How long, you 10simple ones, will you love 11simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23Turn at my rebuke;
Surely pI will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24q Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25Because you rdisdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26s I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27When tyour terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28“Thenu they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29Because they vhated knowledge
And did not wchoose the fear of the LORD,
30x They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31Therefore ythey shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32For the 12turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33But whoever listens to me will dwell zsafely,
The Value of Wisdom
1My son, if you receive my words,
And atreasure my commands within you,
2So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5c Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
e He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8He guards the paths of justice,
And fpreserves the way of His saints.
9Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11Discretion will preserve you;
g Understanding will keep you,
12To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To hwalk in the ways of darkness;
14i Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15j Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
16To deliver you from kthe immoral woman,
l From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
18For mher house 1leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
19None who go to her return,
Nor do they 2regain the paths of life—
20So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.
21For the upright will dwell in the nland,
And the blameless will remain in it;
22But the wicked will be 3cut off from the 4earth,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Guidance for the Young
1My son, do not forget my law,
a But let your heart keep my commands;
2For length of days and long life
And bpeace they will add to you.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
c Bind them around your neck,
d Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4e And so find favor and 1high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5f Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
g And lean not on your own understanding;
6h In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall 2direct your paths.
7Do not be wise in your own ieyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8It will be health to your 3flesh,
9k Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10l So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11m My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
n Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13o Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14p For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies,
And qall the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16r Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17s Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18She is ta tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who 5retain her.
19u The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20By His knowledge the depths were vbroken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23w Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25x Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27y Do not withhold good from 6those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28z Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30a Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31b Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
c But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33d The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But eHe blesses the home of the just.
34f Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
Security in Wisdom
1Hear, amy children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3When I was my father’s son,
b Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4c He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
d Keep my commands, and live.
5e Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
f Love her, and she will keep you.
7g Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8h Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9She will place on your head ian ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
j And the years of your life will be many.
11I have ktaught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12When you walk, lyour steps will not be hindered,
m And when you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14n Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16o For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is 1taken away unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18p But the path of the just qis like the shining 2sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19r The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
20My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of slife.
24Put away from you a 3deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26Ponder the path of your tfeet,
And let all your ways be established.
27Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
The Peril of Adultery
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
1 Lend your ear to my understanding,
2That you may 2preserve discretion,
And your lips amay keep knowledge.
3b For the lips of 3an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is csmoother than oil;
4But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death,
d Her steps lay hold of 4hell.
6Lest you ponder her path of life—
Her ways are unstable;
You do not know them.
7Therefore hear me now, my children,
And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8Remove your way far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house,
9Lest you give your 5honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one;
10Lest aliens be filled with your 6wealth,
And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;
11And you mourn at last,
When your flesh and your body are consumed,
12And say:
“How I have hated instruction,
And my heart despised correction!
13I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
14I was on the verge of total ruin,
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
15Drink water from your own cistern,
And running water from your own well.
16Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
7 Streams of water in the streets?
17Let them be only your own,
And not for strangers with you.
18Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with ethe wife of your youth.
19f As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be 8enraptured with her love.
20For why should you, my son, be enraptured by gan immoral woman,
And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?
21h For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He 9ponders all his paths.
22i His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23j He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Dangerous Promises
1My son, aif you become 1surety for your friend,
If you have 2shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
4b Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the 3fowler.
The Folly of Indolence
6c Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7Which, having no 4captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8Provides her 5supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9d How long will you 6slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11e So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man. Symbols for the Bible
The Wicked Man
12A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
He 7shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14Perversity is in his heart,
g He devises evil continually,
h He sows discord.
15Therefore his calamity shall come isuddenly;
Suddenly he shall jbe broken kwithout remedy.
16These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to 8Him:
m A lying tongue,
n Hands that shed innocent blood,
18o A heart that devises wicked plans,
p Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19q A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who rsows discord among brethren.
Beware of Adultery
20s My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21t Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22u When you roam, 10they will lead you;
When you sleep, vthey will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23w For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24x To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
25y Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
a And 11an adulteress will bprey upon his precious life.
27Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
28Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?
29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.
30People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31Yet when he is found, che must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32Whoever commits adultery with a woman dlacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34For ejealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35He will 12accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
The Wiles of a Harlot
1My son, keep my words,
And atreasure my commands within you.
c And my law as the apple of your eye.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5e That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
6For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the 1youths,
A young man fdevoid2 of understanding,
8Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9g In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
10And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11h She was loud and rebellious,
i Her feet would not stay at home.
12At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13So she caught him and kissed him;
With an 3impudent face she said to him:
14“I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of jEgyptian linen.
17I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19For 4my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20He has taken a bag of money 5with him,
And will come home 6on the appointed day.”
217 With kher enticing speech she caused him to yield,
l With her flattering lips she 8seduced him.
22Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or 9as a fool to the correction of the 10stocks,
23Till an arrow struck his liver.
m As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it 11would cost his life.
24Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26For she has cast down many wounded,
And nall who were slain by her were strong men.
27o Her house is the way to 12hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.
The Excellence of Wisdom
And understanding lift up her voice?
2She takes her stand on the top of the 1high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5O you 2simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6Listen, for I will speak of bexcellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
9They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11c For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13d The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
e Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And fthe perverse mouth I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, gI have strength.
And rulers decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of 3the earth.
And jthose who seek me diligently will find me.
18k Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
20I 4traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22“Thel LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23m I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25n Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26While as yet He had not made the earth or the 5fields,
Or the 6primal dust of the world.
27When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29o When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When pHe marked out the foundations of the earth,
30q Then I was beside Him as 7a master craftsman;
r And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And smy delight was with the sons of men.
32“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For tblessed are those who keep my ways.
33Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34u Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoever finds me finds life,
And vobtains favor from the LORD;
36But he who sins against me wwrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”
The Way of Wisdom
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2b She has slaughtered her meat,
c She has mixed her wine,
She has also 1furnished her table.
3She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4“Whoeverd is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8f Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
g Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, hand he will increase in learning.
10“Thei fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11j For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12k If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
The Way of Folly
13l A foolish woman is 2clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat mby the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16“Whoevern is 3simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he does not know that pthe dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of 4hell.
Wise Sayings of Solomon
b A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2c Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
d But righteousness delivers from death.
3e The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish,
But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4f He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But gthe hand of the diligent makes rich.
5He who gathers in hsummer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is ia son who causes shame.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7j The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise in heart will receive commands,
k But 1a prating fool will 2fall.
9l He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.
11The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12Hatred stirs up strife,
But mlove covers all sins.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But na rod is for the back of him who 3is devoid of understanding.
14Wise people store up knowledge,
But othe mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15The prich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16The labor of the righteous leads to qlife,
The wages of the wicked to sin.
17He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction 4goes astray.
18Whoever rhides hatred has lying lips,
And swhoever spreads slander is a fool.
19t In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But uhe who restrains his lips is wise.
20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of 5wisdom.
22v The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
23w To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
24x The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And ythe desire of the righteous will be granted.
25When the whirlwind passes by, zthe wicked is no more,
But athe righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.
27b The fear of the LORD prolongs days,
But cthe years of the wicked will be shortened.
28The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the dexpectation of the wicked will perish.
29The way of the LORD is strength for the upright,
But edestruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30f The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the 6earth.
31g The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
The Folly of Wickedness
1aDishonest1 scales are an abomination to the LORD,
But a 2just weight is His delight.
2When pride comes, then comes bshame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright will guide cthem,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4d Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But erighteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless will 3direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own fwickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7When a wicked man dies, his expectation will gperish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8h The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10i When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11By the blessing of the upright the city is jexalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12He who 4is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13k A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit lconceals a matter.
14m Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15He who is nsurety5 for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates 6being surety is secure.
16A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17o The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18The wicked man does deceptive work,
But phe who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19As righteousness leads to qlife,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own rdeath.
20Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21sThough they join 7forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But tthe posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks 8discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked uis wrath.
24There is one who vscatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25w The generous soul will be made rich,
x And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26The people will curse yhim who withholds grain,
But zblessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27He who earnestly seeks good 9finds favor,
a But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28b He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But cthe righteous will flourish like foliage.
29He who troubles his own house dwill inherit the wind,
And the fool will be eservant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And fhe who 10wins souls is wise.
31g If the righteous will be 11recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
The House of the Righteous Shall Stand
1Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
2A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.
3A man is not established by wickedness,
But the aroot of the righteous cannot be moved.
4b An1 excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is clike rottenness in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6d The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
e But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7f The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
g But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9h Better is the one who is 2slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.
10i A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11j He who 3tills his land will be satisfied with kbread,
But he who follows 4frivolity lis devoid of 5understanding.
12The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13m The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
n But the righteous will come through trouble.
14o A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
p And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15q The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16r A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.
17s He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18t There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19The truthful lip shall be established forever,
u But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21v No grave 6trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22w Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
23x A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24y The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
25z Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But aa good word makes it glad.
26The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.
28In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
Wisdom Loves Righteousness
1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
a But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2b A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
3c He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4d The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
5A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
6e Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7f There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.
9The light of the righteous rejoices,
g But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10By pride comes nothing but hstrife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11i Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But jwhen the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13He who kdespises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14l The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from mthe snares of death.
15Good understanding 1gains nfavor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16o Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But pa faithful ambassador brings health.
18Poverty and shame will come to him who 2disdains correction,
But qhe who regards a rebuke will be honored.
19A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But sthe wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23t Much food is in the 3fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is 4waste.
24u He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him 5promptly.
25v The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
The Ways of Life and Death
1The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
a But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
b But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4Where no oxen are, the 1trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
5A cfaithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter dlies.
6A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But eknowledge is easy to him who understands.
7Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of fknowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.
But among the upright there is favor.
10The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11h The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12i There is a way that seems right to a man,
But jits end is the way of kdeath.
13Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And lthe end of mirth may be grief.
14The backslider in heart will be mfilled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied 3from nabove.
15The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16o A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20p The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But 4the rich has many qfriends.
21He who despises his neighbor sins;
r But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
23In all labor there is profit,
But 5idle chatter leads only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
25A true witness 6delivers ssouls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27t The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
28In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
29u He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is 7impulsive exalts folly.
30A sound heart is life to the body,
But venvy is wrottenness to the bones.
31x He who oppresses the poor reproaches yhis Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But zthe righteous has a refuge in his death.
33Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But awhat is in the heart of fools is made known.
34Righteousness exalts a bnation,
But sin is a 8reproach to any people.
35c The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
1A asoft answer turns away wrath,
But ba harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
c But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3d The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4A 1wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5e A fool despises his father’s instruction,
f But he who 2receives correction is prudent.
6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7The lips of the wise 3disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.
8g The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves him who hfollows righteousness.
10i Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And jhe who hates correction will die.
11k Hell4 and 5Destruction are before the LORD;
So how much more lthe hearts of the sons of men.
12m A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.
13n A merry heart makes a cheerful 6countenance,
But oby sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15All the days of the afflicted are evil,
p But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16q Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble.
17r Better is a dinner of 7herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.
18s A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
19t The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.
20u A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
21v Folly is joy to him who is destitute of 8discernment,
w But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22x Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And ya word spoken 9in due season, how good it is!
24z The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may aturn away from 10hell below.
25b The LORD will destroy the house of the proud,
But cHe will establish the boundary of the widow.
26d The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
e But the words of the pure are pleasant.
27f He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous gstudies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
29h The LORD is far from the wicked,
But iHe hears the prayer of the righteous.
30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones 11healthy.
31The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33j The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And kbefore honor is humility.
Wisdom Is Better Than Gold
1The apreparations1 of the heart belong to man,
b But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2All the ways of a man are pure in his own ceyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.
3d Commit2 your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.
4The eLORD has made all for Himself,
f Yes, even the wicked for the day of 3doom.
5g Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join 4forces, none will go unpunished.
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And iby the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
7When a man’s ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8j Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9k A man’s heart plans his way,
l But the LORD directs his steps.
10Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11m Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s;
All the weights in the bag are His 5work.
12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For na throne is established by righteousness.
13o Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will pappease it.
15In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a qcloud of the latter rain.
16r How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before 6a fall.
19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the 7spoil with the proud.
20He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever strusts in the LORD, happy is he.
21The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of tdeath.
26The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives uhim on.
278 An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning vfire.
28A perverse man sows strife,
And wa whisperer separates the best of friends.
29A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He 9purses his lips and brings about evil.
31x The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32y He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.