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Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: ²To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding; ³To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity; ⁴To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion: ⁵That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels: ⁶To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. ⁸My son, hear the instruction of your father, And forsake not the law of your mother: ⁹For they shall be ornament of grace unto your head, And chains about your neck.

¹⁰My son, if sinners entice you, Consent not. ¹¹If they say, Come with us, Let us lay in wait for blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; ¹²Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit; ¹³We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil; ¹⁴You shall cast your lot among us; We will all have one purse: ¹⁵My son, walk not in the way with them; Refrain your foot from their path: ¹⁶For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood. ¹⁷For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird: ¹⁸And these lay in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives. ¹⁹So are the ways of every one that is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰Wisdom cries aloud in the street; She utters her voice in the broad places; ²¹She cries in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she utters her words: ²²How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? And the scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge? ²³Turn now at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you. ²⁴Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded; ²⁵But you have set at nothing all my counsel, And obey none of my reproof: ²⁶I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes; ²⁷When your fear comes as a storm, And your calamity comes on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. ²⁸Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: ²⁹Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah: ³⁰They obeyed none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof. ³¹Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices. ³²For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them. ³³But whoever listens unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.

2 My son, if you will receive my words, And lay up my commandments with you; ²So as to incline your ear unto wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; ³yous, if you cry after discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding; ⁴If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures: ⁵Then shall you understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God. ⁶For Jehovah gives wisdom; Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding: ⁷He lays up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity; ⁸That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints. ⁹Then shall you understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yes, every good path.

¹⁰For wisdom shall enter into your heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto your soul; ¹¹Discretion shall watch over you; Understanding shall keep you: ¹²To deliver you from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things; ¹³Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; ¹⁴Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil; ¹⁵Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths: ¹⁶To deliver you from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flatters with her words; ¹⁷That forsakes the friend of her yeth, And forgets *** the covenant of her God: ¹⁸For her house inclines unto death, And her paths unto the dead; ¹⁹None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life: ²⁰That you may walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous. ²¹For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it. ²²But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.

3 My son, do not forget my law; But let your heart keep my commandments: ²For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to you. ³Let not kindness and truth forsake you: Bind them about your neck; Write them upon the tablet of your heart: ⁴So shall you find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man. ⁵Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And lean not upon your own understanding: ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will direct your paths.

⁷Be not wise in your own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: ⁸It will be health to your navel, And marrow to your bones. ⁹Honor Jehovah with your substance, And with the first-fruits of all your increase: ¹⁰So shall your barns be filled with plenty, And your vats shall overflow with new wine. ¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: ¹²For whom Jehovah loves he reproves; Even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

¹³Happy is the man that finds wisdom, And the man that gets understanding. ¹⁴For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. ¹⁵She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things you can desire are to be compared unto her. ¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retains her. ¹⁹Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens. ²⁰By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

²¹My son, let them not depart from your eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²²this shall they be life unto your soul, And grace to your neck. ²³Then shall you walk in your way securely, And your foot shall not stumble. ²⁴When you lay down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: ²⁶For Jehovah will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being taken.

²⁷Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do it. ²⁸Say not unto your neighbor, Go, and come again, And tomorrow I will give; When you have it by you. ²⁹Devise not evil against your neighbor, Seeing he dwells securely by you. ³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. ³¹Envy not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. ³²For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright. ³³The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesses the habitation of the righteous. ³⁴Surely he scoffs at the scoffers; But he gives grace unto the lowly. ³⁵The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

4 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: ²For I give you good doctrine; Forsake not my law. ³For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. ⁴And he taught me, and said unto me: Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; ⁵Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; ⁶Forsake her not, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom; yes, with all your attaining get understanding. ⁸Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you to honor, when you do embrace her. ⁹She will give to your head an ornament of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to you. ¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of your life shall be many. ¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in paths of uprightness. ¹²When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; And if you run, you shall not stumble. ¹³Take hold fast of instruction; Do not let her go: Keep her; For she is your life.

¹⁴Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men. ¹⁵Avoid it, pass not near it; Turn from it, and pass on. ¹⁶For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shines more and more unto the perfect day. ¹⁹The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.

²⁰My son, attend to my words; Incline your ear unto my sayings. ²¹Let them not depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. ²²For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. ²³Keep your heart with all diligence; For out of it comes the issues of life. ²⁴Put away from you a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from you. ²⁵Let your eyes look right on, And let your eyelids look straight before you. ²⁶Make level the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. ²⁷Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove your foot from evil.

5 My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline your ear to my understanding: ²That you may preserve discretion, And that your lips may keep knowledge. ³For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil: ⁴But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol; ⁶So that she finds not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knows it not. ⁷Now therefore, my sons, listen unto me, And do not depart from the words of my mouth. ⁸Remove your way far from her, And come not near to the door of her house; ⁹Lest you give your honor unto others, And your years unto the cruel; ¹⁰Lest strangers be filled with your strength, And your labors be in the house of an alien, ¹¹And you mourn at your latter end, When your flesh and your body are consumed, ¹²And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof; ¹³Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to them that instructed me! ¹⁴I was well-near in all evil In the midst of the assembly and congregation.

¹⁵Drink waters out of your own cistern, And running waters out of your own well. ¹⁶Should your springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets? ¹⁷Let them be for yourself alone, And not for strangers with you. ¹⁸Let your fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of your yeth. ¹⁹As a loving and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And be ravished always with her love. ²⁰For why should you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? ²¹For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he makes level all his paths. ²²His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be held with the cords of his sin. ²³He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

6 My son, if you are become surety for your neighbor, If you have stricken your hands for a stranger; ²You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth. ³Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, Seeing you are come into the hand of your neighbor: Go, humble yourself, and entreat your neighbor; ⁴Give not sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; ⁵Deliver yourself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁶Go to the ant, you slothful; Consider her ways, and be wise: ⁷Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler, ⁸Provides her bread in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. ⁹How long will you sleep, O slothful? When will you arise out of your sleep? ¹⁰yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: ¹¹So shall your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.

¹²A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walks with a perverse mouth; ¹³That winks with his eyes, that speaks with his feet, That makes signs with his fingers; ¹⁴In whose heart is perverseness, Who devises evil continually, Who sows discord. ¹⁵Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; And suddenly he shall be broken, and that without remedy. ¹⁶There are six things which Jehovah hates; yes, seven which are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood; ¹⁸A heart that devises wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹A false witness that utters lies, And he that sows discord among brethren.

²⁰My son, keep the commandment of your father, And forsake not the law of your mother: ²¹Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them about your neck. ²²When you walk, it shall lead you; When you sleep, it shall watch over you; And when you awake, it shall talk with you. ²³For the commandment is a lamp; And the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life: ²⁴To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner’s tongue. ²⁵Lust not after her beauty in your heart; Neither let her take you with her eyelids. ²⁶For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunts for the precious life. ²⁷Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? ²⁸Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched? ²⁹So he that goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be unpunished. ³⁰Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry: ³¹But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house. ³²He that commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He who does it would destroy his own soul. ³³Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away. ³⁴For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. ³⁵He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

7 My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with you. ²Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of your eye. ³Bind them upon your fingers; Write them upon the tablet of your heart. ⁴Say unto wisdom, you are my sister; And call understanding your kinswoman: ⁵That they may keep you from the strange woman, From he foreigner that flatters with her words.

⁶For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice; ⁷And among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding, ⁸Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house, ⁹In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness. ¹⁰And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart. ¹¹She is clamorous and willful; Her feet abide not in her house: ¹²Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lies in wait at every corner. ¹³So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face she said unto him: ¹⁴Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows. ¹⁵Therefore I came forth to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, and I have found you. ¹⁶I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. ¹⁷I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. ¹⁸Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us delight ourselves with loves. ¹⁹For the man is not at home; He is gone on a long journey: ²⁰He has taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon. ²¹With her fair speech she cause him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forces him along. ²²He go after her straightway, As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool; ²³Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hurries to the snare, And knows not that it is for his life.

²⁴Now therefore, my sons, listen unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth. ²⁵Let not your heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths. ²⁶For she has cast down many wounded: yes, all her slain are a mighty host. ²⁷Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.

8 Does not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice? ²On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she stands; ³Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud: ⁴Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men. ⁵O you simple, understand prudence; And, you fools, be of an understanding heart. ⁶Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And from the opening of my lips shall come right things. ⁷For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. ⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. ⁹They are all plain to him that understands, And right to them that find knowledge. ¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold. ¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.

¹²I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And I find out knowledge and discretion. ¹³The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. ¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might. ¹⁵By me kings reign, And princes decree justice. ¹⁶By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth. ¹⁷I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. ¹⁸Riches and honor are with me; yes, durable wealth and righteousness. ¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver. ²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice; ²¹That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

²²Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. ²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. ²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. ²⁵Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; ²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. ²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, ²⁸When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, ²⁹When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; ³⁰Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him, ³¹Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

³²Now therefore, my sons, listen unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways. ³³Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not. ³⁴Blessed is the man that hears me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. ³⁵For whoever finds me finds life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah. ³⁶But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

9 Wisdom has built her house; She has hewn out her seven pillars: ²She has killed her beasts; She has mingled her wine; She has also furnished her table: ³She has sent forth her maidens; She cries upon the highest places of the city: ⁴whoever is simple, let him turn in here: As for him that is void of understanding, she says to him, ⁵Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled. ⁶Forsake foolishness, you simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding. ⁷He that corrects a scoffer gets shame to himself; And he that reproves a wicked man gets himself a blemish. ⁸Reprove not a scoffer, unless he hates you: Reprove a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. ¹¹For by me your days shall be multiplied, And the years of your life shall be increased. ¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; And if you scoff, you alone shall bear it.

¹³The foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. ¹⁴And she sits at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city, ¹⁵To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways: ¹⁶whoever is simple, let him turn in here; And as for him that is void of understanding, she says to him, ¹⁷Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ¹⁸But he knows not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

10 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

²Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivers from death. ³Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

⁴He becomes poor that works with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

⁵He that gathers in summer is a wise son; But he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame.

⁶Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

⁷The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot.

⁸The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.

⁹He that walks uprightly walks surely; But he that perverts his ways shall be known.

¹⁰He that winks with the eye causes sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.

¹¹The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

¹²Hatred stirs up strifes; But love covers all transgressions.

¹³In the lips of him that has discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

¹⁴Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.

¹⁵The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

¹⁶The labor of the righteous tends to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin.

¹⁷He is in the way of life that heeds correction; But he that forsakes reproof errs.

¹⁸He that hides hatred is of lying lips; And he that utters a slander is a fool.

¹⁹In the multitude of words there is no lack of transgression; But he that refrains his lips does wisely.

²⁰The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is of little worth. ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.

²²The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich; And he adds no sorrow therewith.

²³It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

²⁴The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted. ²⁵When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

²⁶As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the slothful to them that send him.

²⁷The fear of Jehovah prolongs days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. ²⁸The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

²⁹The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. ³⁰The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land.

³¹The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaks perverseness.

11 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.

²When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.

³The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivers from death.

⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

⁷When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perishes.

⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked comes in his stead.

⁹With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

¹⁰When it go well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹²He that despises his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holds his peace. ¹³He that go about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

¹⁴Where no wise guidance is, the people fall; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

¹⁵He that is surety for a stranger shall suffer for it; But he that hates suretyship is secure.

¹⁶A gracious woman obtains honor; And violent men obtain riches.

¹⁷The merciful man does good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.

¹⁸The wicked earns deceitful wages; But he that sows righteousness has a sure reward.

¹⁹He that is steadfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursues evil does it to his own death.

²⁰They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

²¹yough hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; ** But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

²²As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a fair woman that is without discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous is only good; But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

²⁴There is that scatters, and increases yet more; And there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends only to want.

²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that waters shall be watered also himself.

²⁶He that withholds grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it.

²⁷He that diligently seeks good seeks favor; But he that searches after evil, it shall come unto him.

²⁸He that trusts in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

²⁹He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise wins souls.

³¹Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner!

12 whoever loves correction loves knowledge; But he that hates reproof is brutish.

²A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

³A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

⁴A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just; But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

⁶The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

⁷The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand.

⁸A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

⁹Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, Than he that honors himself, and lacks bread.

¹⁰A righteous man regards the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that follows after vain persons is void of understanding.

¹²The wicked desires the net of evil men; But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

¹³In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble.

¹⁴A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

¹⁵The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise listens unto counsel.

¹⁶A fool’s vexation is presently known; But a prudent man conceals shame.

¹⁷He that utters truth shows forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.

¹⁸There is one that speaks rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.

¹⁹The lips of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counselors of peace is joy.

²¹There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

²²Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight.

²³A prudent man conceals knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

²⁴The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be put under taskwork.

²⁵Heaviness in the heart of a man makes it stoop; But a good word makes it glad.

²⁶The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked cause them to err.

²⁷The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men is to the diligent.

²⁸In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death.

13 A wise son hears his father’s instruction; But a scoffer does not hears a rebuke.

²A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.

³He that guards his mouth keeps his life; But he that opened wide his lips shall have destruction.

⁴The soul of the slothful desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

⁵A righteous man hates lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame.

⁶Righteousness guards him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

⁷There is he that makes himself rich, yet has nothing: There is he that makes himself poor, yet has great wealth.

⁸The ransom of a man’s life is his riches; But the poor hears no threatening.

⁹The light of the righteous rejoices; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

¹⁰By pride comes only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.

¹¹Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathers by labor shall have increase.

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick; But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

¹³whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself; But he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.

¹⁴The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

¹⁵Good understanding gives favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.

¹⁶Every prudent man works with knowledge; But a fool flaunts his folly.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.

¹⁸Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses correction; But he that regards reproof shall be honored.

¹⁹The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

²⁰Walk with wise men, and you shall be wise; But the companion of fools shall be broken.

²¹Evil pursues sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.

²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.

²³Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that that is destroyed by reason of injustice.

²⁴He that spares his rod hates his son; But he that loves him seeks him with correction.

²⁵The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.

14 Every wise woman builds her house; But the foolish pulls it down with her own hands.

²He that walks in his uprightness fears Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despises him.

³In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.

⁵A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness utters lies.

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and finds it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that has understanding.

⁷Go into the presence of a foolish man, And you shall not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.

⁹A fools mocks the trespass-offering; But among the upright there is good will.

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness; And a stranger does not share in its joy.

¹¹The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.

¹²There is a way which seems right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.

¹³Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of joy is heaviness.

¹⁴The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

¹⁵The simple believes every word; But the prudent man looks well to his going.

¹⁶A wise man fears, and departs from evil; But the fool bears himself insolently, and is confident.

¹⁷He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.

¹⁸The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich has many friends.

²¹He that despises his neighbor sins; But he that has pity on the poor, happy is he.

²²Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

²³In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tends only to poverty.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.

²⁵A true witness delivers souls; But he that utters lies cause deceit.

²⁶In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge. ²⁷The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

²⁸In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

²⁹He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

³⁰A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.

³¹He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker; But he that has mercy on the needy honors him.

³²The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.

³⁵The king’s favor is toward a servant that deals wisely; But his wrath will be against him that cause shame.

15 A soft answer turns away wrath; But a grievous word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise utters knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools pours out folly.

³The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.

⁴A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

⁵A fool despises his father’s correction; But he that regards reproof gets prudence.

⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish does not so.

⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loves him that follows after righteousness.

¹⁰There is grievous correction for him that forsakes the way; And he that hates reproof shall die.

¹¹Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!

¹²A scoffer loves not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.

¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

¹⁴The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge; But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith. ¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

¹⁸A wrathful man stirs up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeases strife.

¹⁹The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.

²⁰A wise son makes a glad father; But a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding makes his way straight.

²²Where there is no counsel, purposes are broken; But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

²³A man has joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!

²⁴To the wise the way of life is upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.

²⁵Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.

²⁶Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words are pure.

²⁷He that is greedy for gain troubles his own house; But he that hates bribes shall live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous studies to answer; But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²⁹Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart; And good tidings make the bones fat.

³¹The ear that listens to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise.

³²He that refuses correction despises his own soul; But he that listens to reproof gets understanding.

³³The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor is humility.

16 The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.

²All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes; But Jehovah weighs the spirits.

³Commit your works unto Jehovah, And your purposes shall be established.

⁴Jehovah has made everything for its own end; yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

⁵Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.

⁷When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.

⁹A man’s heart devises his way; But Jehovah directs his steps.

¹⁰A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.

¹¹A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s; All the weights of the bag are his work.

¹²It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaks right.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it. ¹⁵In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

¹⁶How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yes, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keeps his way preserves his soul.

¹⁸Pride go before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰He that gives heed unto the word shall find good; And whoever trusts in Jehovah, happy is he.

²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increases learning.

²²Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that has it; But the correction of fools is their folly.

²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

²⁴Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

²⁵There is a way which seems right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

²⁶The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; For his mouth urges him thereto.

²⁷A worthless man devises mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire. ²⁸A perverse man scatters abroad strife; And a whisperer separates chief friends.

²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. ³⁰He that shuts his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

³¹The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.

³²He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that rules his spirit, than he that takes a city.

³³The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

²A servant that deals wisely shall have rule over a son that causes shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

³The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah tries the hearts.

⁴An evil-doer gives heed to wicked lips; And a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷Excellent speech becomes not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.

⁹He that covers a transgression seeks love; But he that harps on a matter separates chief friends.

¹⁰A rebuke enters deeper into one that has understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³whoever rewards evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

¹⁵He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

¹⁶Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?

¹⁷A friend loves at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man void of understanding strikes hands, And becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁹He that loves strife loves transgression: He that raised high his gate seeks destruction.

²⁰He that has a wayward heart finds no good; And he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

²¹He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool has no joy.

²²A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

²³A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of him that has understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

²⁷He that spares his words has knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. ²⁸Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise; When he shuts his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

18 He that isolates himself seeks his own desire, And rages against all sound wisdom.

²A fool has no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.

³When the wicked comes, there comes also contempt, And with dishonor comes reproach.

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

⁵To respect the person of the wicked is not good, Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

⁶A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for stripes. ⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

⁸The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

⁹He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

¹⁰The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it, and is safe.

¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor go humility.

¹³He that gives answer before he hears, It is folly and shame unto him.

¹⁴The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?

¹⁵The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.

¹⁷He that pleades his cause first seems just; But his neighbor comes and searches him out.

¹⁸The lot cause contentions to cease, And parts between the mighty.

¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

²²whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor of Jehovah.

²³The poor use entreaties; But the rich answered roughly.

²⁴He that makes many friends does it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

19 Better is the poor that walks in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

²Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hurries with his feet sins.

³The foolishness of man subverts his way; And his heart frets against Jehovah.

⁴Wealth adds many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.

⁵A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that utters lies shall not escape.

⁶Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that gives gifts. ⁷All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

⁸He that gets wisdom loves his own soul: He that keeps understanding shall find good.

⁹A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that utters lies shall perish.

¹⁰Delicate living is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹The discretion of a man made him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

¹²The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.

¹³A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

¹⁴House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

¹⁵Slothfulness castes into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.

¹⁶He that keeps the commandment keeps his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die.

¹⁷He that has pity upon the poor lends unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.

¹⁸Chasten your son, seeing there is hope; And set not your heart on his destruction.

¹⁹A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if you deliver him, you must do it yet again.

²⁰Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter end.

²¹There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.

²²That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.

²³The fear of Jehovah tends to life; And he that has it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.

²⁴The slothful man buries his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

²⁶He that does violence to his father, and chases away his mother, Is a son that cause shame and brings reproach.

²⁷Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A worthless witness mocks at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink arouses brawling; And whoever errs thereby is not wise.

²The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

³It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

⁴The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But who can find a faithful man?

⁷A righteous man that walks in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.

⁸A king that sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

⁹Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

¹⁰Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

¹¹Even a child makes himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

¹²The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made both of them.

¹³Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

¹⁵There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

¹⁶Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.

¹⁷Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance you make war.

¹⁹He that goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; Therefore company not with him that opened wide his lips.

²⁰whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹An inheritance may be gotten quickly at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²²Say not, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save you.

²³Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

²⁴A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

²⁵It is a snare to a man to rashly say, It is holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.

²⁶A wise king sifts the wicked, And brings the threshing-wheel over them.

²⁷The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.

²⁸Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upheld by kindness.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

³⁰Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turns it wherever he will.

²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weighs the hearts.

³To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

⁴A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hurries only to want.

⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.

⁷The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.

⁸The way of him that is loaded with guilt is exceedingly crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.

⁹It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

¹⁰The soul of the wicked desires evil: His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹²The righteous man considers the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.

¹³whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret pacifies anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.

¹⁵It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶The man that wanders out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous comes in the stead of the upright.

¹⁹It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.

²⁰There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swallows it up.

²¹He that follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.

²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of the confidence thereof.

²³whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

²⁴The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He works in the arrogance of pride.

²⁵The desire of the slothful kills him; For his hands refuse to labor. ²⁶There is he that covets greedily all the day long; But the righteous gives and withholds not.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!

²⁸A false witness shall perish; But the man that hears shall speak so as to endure.

²⁹A wicked man hardens his face; But as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah. ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.

22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.

³A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

⁴The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life.

⁵Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keeps his soul shall be far from them.

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷The rich rules over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸He that sows iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.

⁹He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he gives of his bread to the poor.

¹⁰Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and dishonor will cease.

¹¹He that loves pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

¹²The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that has knowledge; But he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

¹³The slothful says, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.

¹⁴The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

¹⁵Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

¹⁶He that oppresses the poor to increase his gain, And he that gives to the rich, shall come only to want.

¹⁷Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart unto my knowledge. ¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, If they be established together upon your lips. ¹⁹That your trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to you this day, even to you. ²⁰Have not I written unto you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, ²¹To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may carry back words of truth to them that send you?

²²Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: ²³For Jehovah will plead their cause, And plunder the life those that plunder them.

²⁴Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man you shall not go: ²⁵Lest you learn this ways, And get a snare to your soul.

²⁶Be not one of them that strike the hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. ²⁷If you have not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?

²⁸Remove not the ancient landmark, Which your fathers have set.

²⁹See a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

23 When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before you; ²And put a knife to your throat, If you be a man given to appetite. ³Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.

⁴Weary not yourself to be rich; Cease from your own wisdom. ⁵Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flies toward heaven.

⁶Eat not the bread of him that has an evil eye, Neither desire his dainties: ⁷For as he thinks within himself, so he is: Eat and drink, says he to you; But his heart is not with you. ⁸The morsel which you have eaten shall you vomit up, And lose your sweet words.

⁹Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

¹⁰Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless: ¹¹For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against you.

¹²Apply your heart unto instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge. ¹³Withhold not correction from the child; For if you beat him with the rod, he will not die. ¹⁴You shall beat him with the rod, And shall deliver his soul from Sheol. ¹⁵My son, if your heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even I: ¹⁶yous, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak right things.

¹⁷Let not your heart envy sinners; But be in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: ¹⁸For surely there is a reward; And your hope shall not be cut off.

¹⁹Hear, my son, and be wise, And guide your heart in the way. ²⁰Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh: ²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. ²²listen unto your father that begot you, And despise not your mother when she is old. ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; yes, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²⁴The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begets a wise child will have joy of him. ²⁵Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her that bare you rejoice. ²⁶My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes delight in my ways. ²⁷For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit. ²⁸yous, she lies in wait as a robber, And increases the treacherous among men.

²⁹Who has woe? who has sorrow? who has contentions? Who has complaining? who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine. ³¹Look not upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it go down smoothly: ³²At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like an adder. ³³Your eyes shall behold strange things, And your heart shall utter perverse things. ³⁴yous, you shall be as he that lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lies upon the top of a mast. ³⁵They have stricken me, you shall say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

24 Be not envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them: ²For their heart studies oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.

³Through wisdom is a house built; And by understanding it is established; ⁴And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches. ⁵A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases might. ⁶For by wise guidance you shall make your war; And in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: He opened not his mouth in the gate. ⁸He that devises to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker. ⁹The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

¹⁰If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

¹¹Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that you hold back. ¹²If you say, Behold, we knew not this; does not he that weighs the hearts consider it? And he that keeps your soul, does he not know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?

¹³My son, eat honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste: ¹⁴So shall you know wisdom to be unto your soul; If you have found it, then shall there be a reward, And your hope shall not be cut off.

¹⁵Lay not in wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his resting-place: ¹⁶For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

¹⁷Rejoice not when your enemy falls, And let not your heart be glad when he is overthrown; ¹⁸Unless Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹Fret not yourself because of evil-doers; Neither be envious at the wicked: ²⁰For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

²¹My son, fear Jehovah and the king; And company not with them that are given to change: ²²For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knows it?

²³These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. ²⁴He that says unto the wicked, you are righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them. ²⁶He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

²⁷Prepare your work without, And make it ready for yourself in the field; And afterwards build your house.

²⁸Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause; And deceive not with your lips. ²⁹Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.

³⁰I went by the field of the slothful, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³²Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction: ³³yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep; ³⁴So shall your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.

25 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hez-e-ki-ah king of Judah copied out.

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. ³As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes forth a vessel for the refiner: ⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶Put not yourself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men: ⁷For better is it that it be said unto you, Come up here, Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

⁸Go not forth quickly to strive, unless you know not what to do in the end thereof, When your neighbor has put you to shame. ⁹Debate your cause with your neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another; ¹⁰Unless he that hears it revile you, And your infamy turn not away.

¹¹A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver. ¹²As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasts himself of his gifts falsely.

¹⁵By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

¹⁶Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, unless you be filled therewith, and vomit it.

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, unless he be weary of you, and hate you.

¹⁸A man that bears false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰As one that takes off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: ²²For you will heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward you.

²³The north wind brings forth rain: So does a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

²⁶As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that gives way before the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

²⁸He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

²As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless shall not alight.

³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

⁴Answer not a fool according to his folly, unless you also be like unto him. ⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, unless he be wise in his own conceit.

⁶He that sent a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet, and drinks in damage. ⁷The legs of the lame hang free: So is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸As one that binds a stone in a sling, So is he that gives honor to a fool. ⁹As a thorn that go up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰As an archer that wounds all, So is he that hires a fool and he that hires them that pass by.

¹¹As a dog that returns to his vomit, So is a fool that repeats his folly.

¹²See a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³The slothful says, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.

¹⁴As the door turns upon its hinges, So does the slothful upon his bed.

¹⁵The slothful buries his hand in the dish; It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.

¹⁶The slothful is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷He that passes by, and vexes himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸As a madman who castes firebrands, Arrows, and death, ¹⁹So is the man that deceives his neighbor, And says, Am I not in sport?

²⁰For lack of wood the fire goes out; And where there is no whisperer, contentions cease. ²¹As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. ²²The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

²³Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

²⁴He that hates dissembles with his lips; But he lays up deceit within him: ²⁵When he speaks fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: ²⁶yough his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.

²⁷whoever digs a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.

²⁸A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded; And a flattering mouth works ruin.

27 Boast not yourself of tomorrow; For you know not what a day may bring forth.

²Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

³A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool’s vexation is heavier than both of them together. ⁴Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden. ⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

⁷The full soul loathes a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

⁸As a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man that wanders from his place.

⁹Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So does the sweetness of a man’s friend that comes of hearty counsel. ¹⁰Your own friend, and your father’s friend, forsake not; And go not to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

¹¹My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproaches me.

¹²A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

¹³Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman.

¹⁴He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.

¹⁵A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike: ¹⁶He that would restrain her restrains the wind; And his right hand encounters oil.

¹⁷Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

¹⁸whoever keeps the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regards his master shall be honored.

¹⁹As in water face answered to face, So the heart of man to man.

²⁰Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.

²¹The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is tried by his praise.

²²yough you should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

²³Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And look well to your herds: ²⁴For riches are not for ever: And does the crown endure unto all generations? ²⁵The hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in. ²⁶The lambs are for your clothing, And the goats are the price of the field; ²⁷And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, And maintenance for your maidens.

28 The wicked flee when no man pursues; But the righteous are bold as a lion.

²For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

³A needy man that oppresses the poor Is like a sweeping rain that leaves no food.

⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice; But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.

⁶Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸He that augments his substance by interest and increase, gathers it for him that has pity on the poor.

⁹He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoever cause the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit; But the perfect shall inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that has understanding searches him out.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³He that covers his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoever confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the man that fears always; But he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.

¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶The prince that lacks understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

¹⁷A man that is loaded with the blood of any person Shall flee unto the pit; Let no man stay him.

¹⁸Whoever walks uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

¹⁹He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

²⁰A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that hurries to be rich shall not be unpunished.

²¹To have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.

²²he that has an evil eye hurries after riches, And knows not that want shall come upon him.

²³He that rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor Than he that flatters with the tongue.

²⁴whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer.

²⁵He that is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife; But he that puts his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.

²⁶He that trusts in his own heart is a fool; But whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.

²⁷He that gives unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

29 He that being often reproved hardens his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

²When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man bears rule, the people groan.

³whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father; But he that keeps company with harlots waste his substance.

⁴The king by justice establishes the land; But he that exacts gifts overthrows it.

⁵A man that flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.

⁶In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous does sing and rejoice.

⁷The righteous takes knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked have not understanding to know it.

⁸Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.

⁹If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect; And as for the upright, they seek his life.

¹¹A fool utters all his anger; But a wise man keeps it back and stills it.

¹²If a ruler listens to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lightens the eyes of them both.

¹⁴The king that faithfully judges the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.

¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked are increased, transgression increases; But the righteous shall look upon their fall.

¹⁷Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight unto your soul.

¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he that keeps the law.

¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not give heed.

²⁰See a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

²¹He that delicately brings up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.

²²An angry man stirs up strife, And a wrathful man abounds in transgression.

²³A man’s pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.

²⁴whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul; He hears the petition and utters nothing.

²⁵The fear of man brings a snare; But whoever puts his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.

²⁶Many seek the ruler’s favor; But a man’s judgment comes from Jehovah.

²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

30 The words of A-gur the son of Ja-keh; The oracle. The man says unto I-thi-el, unto I-thi-el and U-cal: ²Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man; ³And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One. ⁴Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know? ⁵Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him. ⁶Add not unto his words, unless he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

⁷Two things have I asked of you; Deny me them not before I die: ⁸Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me: ⁹Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is Jehovah? Or unless I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.

¹⁰Slander not a servant unto his master, unless he curse you, and you be held guilty. ¹¹There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their mother. ¹²There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness. ¹³There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. ¹⁴There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

¹⁵The leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four that say not, Enough: ¹⁶Sheol; And the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that says not, Enough. ¹⁷The eye that mocks at his father, And despises to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.

¹⁸There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not: ¹⁹The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden. ²⁰So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eats, and wipes her mouth, And says, I have done no wickedness. ²¹For three things the earth does tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear: ²²For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food; ²³For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

²⁴There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: ²⁵The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; ²⁶The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; ²⁷The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; ²⁸The lizard takes hold with her hands, yet is she in kings’ palaces.

²⁹There are three things which are stately in their march, yes, four which are stately in going: ³⁰The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turns not away for any; ³¹The greyhound; The he-goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up. ³²If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, Or if you have thought evil, Lay your hand upon your mouth. ³³For the churning of milk brings forth butter, And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.

31 The words of king Lem-u-el; the oracle which his mother taught him. ²What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? ³Give not your strength unto women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. ⁴It is not for kings, O Lem-u-el, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink? ⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted. ⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul: ⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. ⁸Open your mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. ⁹Open your mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.

¹⁰A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. ¹²She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. ¹³She seeks wool and flax, And works willingly with her hands. ¹⁴She is like the merchant-ships; She brings her bread from afar. ¹⁵She rises also while it is yet night, And gives food to her household, And their task to her maidens. ¹⁶She considers a field, and buys it; With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷She girds her loins with strength, And makes strong her arms. ¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp does not go out by night. ¹⁹She lays her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. ²⁰She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²²She makes for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. ²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them, And delivers girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laughs at the time to come. ²⁶She opened her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. ²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household, And eats not the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praised her, saying: ²⁹Many daughters have done worthily, But you excel them all. ³⁰Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that fears Jehovah, she shall be praised. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.