1 Scroll 13 Proverbs (Wisdom).
Proverbs of Solomon,
the son of David, king of Israel;
2 to know wisdom and instruction;
to perceive the words of understanding;
3 to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 to give subtlety to the simple,
to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;
and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels:
6 to understand a proverb, and the interpretation;
the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 [Part 1].
My son, hear the instruction of Thy father,
and forsake not the Law of Thy mother:
9 for they shall be an ornament of grace to Thy head,
and chains about Thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice Thee, consent Thou not.
11 If they say, Come with us,
let us lay in wait for blood,
let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12 let us swallow them up alive as Sheol;
and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13 we shall find all precious substance,
we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 cast in Thy lot among us; let us all have one purse.
15 My son, walk not Thou with them in the way;
refrain Thy foot from their path:
16 for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18 And they lay in wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; who takes away the life of its owners.
20
Wisdom cries outside; she utters her voice in the streets:
21 she cries in the chief place of concourse,
in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words,
22 Until when, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
And the scorners delight in their scorning,
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn ye at My reproof: behold,
I will pour out My Spirit to you,
I will make known to you My words;
24 because I have called, and ye refused;
I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded;
25 but ye have disregard all My counsel, and rejected My reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear comes;
27 when your fear comes as desolation,
and your destruction comes as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish comes upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer;
they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me:
29 for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 they rejected My counsel: they despised all My reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me shall dwell in safety,
and shall at ease from fear of evil.
1 My son, if Thou will receive My words,
and hide My Commandments with Thee;
2 so that Thou incline Thy ear to wisdom,
and apply Thy heart to understanding;
3 for if Thou cry after knowledge,
and lift up Thy voice for understanding;
4 if Thou seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hid treasures;
5 then shall Thou understand the fear of the LORD,
and find the knowledge of GOD.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom:
out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous:
He is a Shield to them that walk uprightly.
8 He keeps the paths of judgment,
and preserves the way of His Saints;
9 then shall Thou understand righteousness,
and judgment, and equity; and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters into Thy heart,
and knowledge is pleasant to Thy soul;
11 discretion shall preserve Thee,
understanding shall keep Thee:
12 to deliver Thee from the way of the evil man,
from the man that speaks perversity;
13 who leave the paths of uprightness,
to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 who rejoice to do evil,
and delight in the forwardness of the wicked;
15 whose ways are crooked,
and they being devious in their paths:
16 to deliver Thee from the strange woman,
even from the stranger who flatters with her words;
17 who forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the Covenant of her God.
18 For her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead.
19 None that go to her return back,
neither do they take hold of the paths of life.
20 That Thou may walk in the way of good men,
and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land,
and the perfect shall remain in it.
22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the Earth,
and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
1 My son, forget not My Law;
but let Thy heart keep My Commandments;
2 for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to Thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake Thee:
bind them about Thy neck;
write them upon the table of Thy heart:
4 so shall Thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of GOD and man.
5
Trust in the LORD with all Thy heart;
and lean not to Thy own understanding.
6 In all Thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will straight Thy paths.
7 Be not wise in Thy own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to Thy navel, and marrow to Thy bones.
9 Honour the LORD with Thy substance,
and with the first-fruit of all Thy increase:
10 so shall Thy barns be filled with plenty,
and Thy presses with new wine shall burst out.
11 My son, despise not Thou the chastening of the LORD,
nor faint when Thou being reproved by Him: Heb 12:5
12 for whom the LORD loves He chastens,
and scourges every son whom He receives. Heb 12:6
13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom,
and the man that gets understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver,
and the gain of it than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies:
and all the things Thou can desire are not to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her:
and happy is every one that retains her.
19
The LORD by wisdom has founded the Earth;
by understanding has He established the Heavens.
20 By his knowledge the abysses are broken up, and the clouds drip the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from Thy eyes:
keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 so shall they be life to Thy soul, and grace to Thy neck.
23 Then shall Thou walk in Thy way safely, and Thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When Thou lie down, Thou shall not be afraid:
but Thou shall lie down, and Thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 For the LORD will be Thy confidence, and will keep Thy foot from being taken.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of Thy hand to do it.
28 Say not to Thy neighbour,
Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give; when Thou have it by Thee.
29 Devise not evil against Thy neighbour,
seeing He dwells securely by Thee.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if He has done Thee no harm.
31 Envy Thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the devious is abomination to the LORD:
but His secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked:
but He blesses the habitation of the just.
34 God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble. Jas 4:6 1Pe 5:5
35 The wise shall inherit glory:
but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not My Law.
3 For I have been my father's son,
tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said to me,
Let Thy heart retain My words: keep My Commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not;
neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve Thee:
love her, and she shall keep Thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all Thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote Thee:
she shall bring Thee to honour, when Thou do embrace her.
9 She shall give to Thy head an ornament of grace:
a crown of glory shall she deliver to Thee.
10 Hear, My son, and receive My sayings; and multiplied shall be the years of Thy life.
11 I have taught Thee in the way of wisdom; I have led Thee in right paths.
12 When Thou go, Thy steps shall not be straitened;
and when Thou run, Thou shall not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is Thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked,
and go not in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief;
and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shines more and more to the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness:
they know not at what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to My words;
incline Thy ear to My sayings.
21 Let them not depart from Thy eyes;
keep them in the middle of Thy heart.
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep Thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from Thee a crooked mouth,
and perverse lips put far from Thee.
25 Let Thy eyes look right on,
and let Thy eyelids before Thee look straight.
26 Ponder the path of Thy feet,
and let all Thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove Thy foot from evil.
1 My son, attend to My wisdom,
and bow Thy ear to My understanding:
2 that Thou may regard discretion,
and that Thy lips may keep knowledge.
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honey-comb,
and her mouth is smoother than oil:
4 but her end is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps take hold on Sheol;
6 lest Thou should ponder the path of life,
her ways are movable, that Thou cannot know.
7
Hear me now therefore, ye children,
and depart not from the words of My mouth.
8 Remove Thy way far from her,
and come not near the door of her house:
9 lest Thou give Thy honour to others,
and Thy years to the cruel:
10 lest strangers be filled with Thy wealth;
and Thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
11 Thou mourn at the last,
when Thy flesh and Thy body are consumed,
12 and say, How have I hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof;
13 and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
nor inclined my ear to them that instructed me!
14 I have been almost in all evil,
in the middle of the Congregation and assembly.
15 Drink waters out of Thy own cistern,
and running waters out of Thy own well.
16 Let Thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
17 Let them be only Thy own, and not for strangers with Thee.
18 Let Thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of Thy youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe.
Let her breasts satisfy Thee at all times;
and with her love Thou ravished always.
20
And why will Thou, My son, be ravished with a strange woman,
and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
and He ponders all his goings.
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself,
and he shall be held with the cords of his sins.
23 He shall die without instruction;
and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
1 My son, if Thou are surety for Thy friend,
if Thou have stricken a stranger with Thy hand,
2 Thou are snared with the words of Thy mouth,
Thou are taken with the words of Thy mouth.
3
Do this now, My son, and deliver thyself,
when Thou are come into the hand of Thy friend;
go, humble thyself, and make sure Thy friend.
4 Give not sleep to Thy eyes, nor slumber to Thy eyelids.
5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter,
and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6
Go to the ant, Thou sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise:
7 which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 provides her provisions in the summer,
and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 Until when will Thou sleep, sluggard?
When will Thou arise out of Thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 so shall Thy poverty come as one that travels,
and Thy want as an armed man.
12
A man of Belial[the Worthless], a wicked man,
he walks with a crooked mouth.
13 he winks with his eyes,
he speaks with his feet,
he teaches with his fingers;
14 forwardness is in his heart,
he devises mischief continually;
he sows discord.
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly;
suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16
These six things does the LORD hate: seven are an abomination to Him:
17 a proud look,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood;
18 a heart that devises wicked imaginations,
feet that are swift in running to mischief;
19 a false witness that speaks lies,
and him that sows discord among brethren.
20 My son, keep Thy father's Commandment,
and forsake not the Law of Thy mother:
21 bind them continually upon Thy heart,
and tie them about Thy neck;
22 when Thou go, it shall lead Thee;
when Thou sleep, it shall keep Thee;
and when Thou awake, it shall talk with Thee.
23 For the Commandment is a Lamp;
and the Law is Light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
24
To keep Thee from the evil woman,
from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25 Lust not after her beauty in Thy heart;
neither let her take Thee with her eyelids.
26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread:
and another man's wife will hunt for the precious life.
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
29 So he who goes in to his neighbour's wife;
whoever touches her shall not be innocent.
30 Men do not despise a thief,
if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31 but if he is found, he shall restore seven-fold;
he shall give all the substance of his house.
32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman,
lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul.
33 A wound and dishonour shall he get;
and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man:
therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will not regard any ransom;
neither will he rest content, though Thou give many gifts.
1 My son, keep My words,
and lay up My Commandments with Thee.
2 Keep My Commandments, and live;
and My Law as the pupil of Thy eye.
3 Bind them upon Thy fingers,
write them upon the table of Thy heart.
4 Say to wisdom, Thou are my sister;
and call understanding Thy kinswoman:
5 that they may keep Thee from the strange woman,
from the stranger which flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of My house,
I looked through My casement,
7 and beheld among the simples,
I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 passing through the street near her corner;
and he went the way to her house.
9 In the twilight, in the evening,
in the black and dark night:
10 and behold, there met him a woman,
with the attire of a whore, and subtle of heart;
11 (she is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 now is she outside, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner).
13 So she caught him, and kissed him,
and with an impudent face said to him,
14 I have with me peace-offerings;
this day have I paid My vows.
15 Therefore I came forth to meet Thee,
diligently to seek Thy face, and I have found Thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,
with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning:
let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the good-man is not at home,
he is gone a long journey:
20 he has taken a bag of money with him,
and will when the day appointed come home.
21 With her much persuasiveness she caused to yield him,
with the flattering of her lips she impelled him.
22 He goes after her quickly, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 until an arrow strikes through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare,
and knows not that it is for his life.
24
Now ye children therefore listen to Me,
and attend to the words of My mouth.
25 Let not Thy heart decline to her ways,
go not astray in her paths.
26 For she has cast down many wounded:
yes, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
1 Does not wisdom cry?
And understanding put forth her voice?
2 She stands on the top of high places,
by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
4 To you, men, I call; and My voice is to the sons of man.
5 Ye simple, understand wisdom:
and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;
and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth;
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing distorted or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understands,
and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive My instruction, and not silver;
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies;
and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence,
and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance,
and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom:
I AM Understanding; I have Strength.
15 By Me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By Me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the Earth.
17 I love them that loving Me;
and those that seek Me early shall find Me.
18 Riches and honour are with Me;
durable riches and righteousness.
19 Better is My fruit than gold, yes, than fine gold;
and My revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of judgment.
21 That I may cause those that love Me;
to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the Earth.
24 When there were no abysses, I was brought forth;
when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth.
26 While as yet He had not made the Earth, nor the fields,
nor the highest part of the dust of the World;
27 when He prepared the Heavens, I was there:
when He set a circle upon the face of the Abyss:
28 when He established the clouds above:
when He strengthened the fountains of the Abyss:
29 when He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His Commandment:
when He appointed the foundations of the Earth:
30 then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him:
and I was day by day His delight, rejoicing always before Him;
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of His Earth;
and My delights were with the sons of men.
32
Now therefore listen to Me, ye children:
for blessed are they that keep My ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that hears Me,
watching day by day at My gates,
waiting at the posts of My doors!
35 For whoever finds Me finds life,
and shall obtain favour from the LORD.
36 But he who sins against Me wrongs his own soul:
all they that hate Me love death.
1 Wisdom has built her house.
She has hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has killed her animal.
She has her wine mingled.
She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens.
She cries upon the highest places of the city,
4 whoever is simple, let him turn in here:
as for him that lacks understanding, she said to him,
5 Come, eat of my bread,
and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the simplicity, and live;
and go in the way of understanding.
7 He who reproves a scorner, gets to himself shame:
and he who rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he shall hate Thee:
rebuke a wise man, and he will love Thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:
teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
11 For by me Thy days shall be multiplied,
and the years of Thy life shall be increased.
12 If Thou are wise, Thou shall be wise for thyself:
but if Thou scorn, Thou alone shall bear it.
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call those who pass by, who go straight on their ways:
16 whoever is simple, let him turn in here:
and as for him that lacks understanding, she said to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knows not that the dead are there;
and in the depths of Sheol are her guests.
1 [Part 2]. (Proverbs of Solomon).
A wise son makes a glad father:
but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish:
but He casts away the substance of the wicked.
4 He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand:
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son:
but He who sleeps in harvest is a shameful son.
6
Blessings are upon the head of the just:
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the just is blessed:
but the name of the wicked shall perish.
8 The wise in heart will receive Commandments:
but a prating fool shall fall.
9 He who walks uprightly walks surely:
but he who perverts his ways shall be known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes sorrow:
but a prating fool shall fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strifes:
but love covers all sins.
13 In the lips of him that has understanding is found wisdom:
but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge:
but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city:
the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labour of the righteous tends to life:
the fruit of the wicked to sin.
17 He is in the way of life that keeps instruction:
but he who refuses reproof goes astray.
18 He who hides hatred with lying lips,
but he who utters a slander, is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there lacks not sin:
but he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver:
the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many:
but fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich,
and He adds no sorrow with it.
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:
but a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him:
but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more:
but the righteous foundation is an everlasting.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to them that send him.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days:
but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:
but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright:
but destruction shall be to the workers of lawlessness.
30 The righteous shall never be removed:
but the wicked shall not inhabit the Earth.
31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom:
but the perverse tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable:
but the mouth of the wicked speaks forwardness.
1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD:
but a just weight-stone is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame:
but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them:
but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in a day of wrath:
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall straight his way:
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them:
but transgressors shall be taken in their own wickedness.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish:
and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked comes in his stead.
9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbour:
but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices:
and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:
but by the mouth of the wicked is it overthrown.
12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbour:
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A tale-bearer reveals secrets:
but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall:
but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He who is surety for a stranger shall suffer for it:
and he who hates clapping[suretyship] is sure.
16 A gracious woman retains honour:
and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul:
but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked works a deceitful work:
but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tends to life:
but he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 They that are with a perverse heart are abomination to the LORD:
but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished:
but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
so is a beautiful woman who is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good:
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scatters, and yet increases;
and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.
25 The blessed soul shall be made fat:
and he who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 He who withholds grain, the people shall curse him:
but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells.
27 He who diligently seeks good procures favour:
but he who seeks mischief, it shall come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches shall fall:
but the righteous shall as a branch flourish.
29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind:
and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life;
and he who wins souls is wise.
31 And if the righteous is scarcely saved,
where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1Pe 4:18
1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge:
but he who hates reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtains favour from the LORD:
but a man of wicked devices He will condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness:
but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband:
but she who makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right:
but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood:
but the mouth of the upright shall them deliver.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not:
but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom:
but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 Better is he that is despised, and has a servant,
than he who honours himself, and is destitute of bread.
10 A righteous man regards the life of his beast:
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread:
but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desires the net of evil men:
but the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips:
but the just shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth:
and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
but he who listens to counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is presently known:
but a prudent man covers shame.
17 He that speaks truth shows forth righteousness:
but a false witness, deceit.
18 There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword:
but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established forever:
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil:
but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just:
but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD:
but they that deal truly are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge:
but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule:
but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man depresses it:
but a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour:
but the way of the wicked seduces them.
27 The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting:
but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life;
and in the path of it there is no death.
1 A wise son hears his father's instruction:
but a scorner hears not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth:
but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He who keeps his mouth keeps his life:
but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing:
but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hates lying:
but a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame.
6 Righteousness keeps him that is upright in the way:
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing:
there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches:
but the poor hears not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices:
but the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.
10 Only by pride comes contention:
but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:
but he who gathers by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick:
but when the desire comes, it is a Tree of Life.
13 Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed:
but he who fears the Commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The Law of the wise is a Fountain of Life,
to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding gives favour:
but the way of transgressors is harsh.
16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge:
but a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief:
but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction:
but he who regards reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul:
but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men shall be wise:
but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Evil pursues sinners:
but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children:
but for the just is laid up the wealth of the sinner.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor:
but there is that is destroyed for lack of judgment.
24 He who spares his rod hates his son:
but he who loves him chastens him early.
25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul:
but the belly of the wicked shall lack.
1 Every wise woman builds her house:
but the foolish plucks it with her hands down.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD:
but he that is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride:
but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean[empty]:
but by the strength of the ox is there much increase.
5 A faithful witness will not lie:
but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not:
but knowledge is easy to him that understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
when Thou perceive not in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way:
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools make a mock at sin:
but among the righteous there is favour.
10 The heart knows its bitterness of soul;
and a stranger does not intermeddle with its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown:
but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but the end of it are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;
and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:
and a good man shall depart from him.
15 The simple believes every word:
but the prudent man looks well to his going.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil:
but the fool rages, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry deals foolishly:
and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly:
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good;
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbour:
but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbour sins:
but he who has mercy on the poor is blessed.
22 Do they not go astray that devise evil?
But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labour there is profit:
but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches:
but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivers souls:
but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:
and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a Fountain of Life,
to depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour:
but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:
but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh:
but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker:
but he who honours Him has mercy on the poor.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness:
but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding:
but that which is in the middle of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation:
but sin is a reproach to any peoples.
35 The king's favour is towards a wise servant:
but his wrath is against him that causes shame.
1 A soft answer turns away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright:
but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
watching the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a Tree of Life:
but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's instruction:
but he who regards reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure:
but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise diffuse knowledge:
but the heart of the foolish does not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD:
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD;
but He loves him that follows after righteousness.
10 Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way:
but he who hates reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon[destruction] are before the LORD:
how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12 A scorner loves not one that reproves him:
neither will he go to the wise.
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance:
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge:
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil:
but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD,
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
than a stalled ox and hatred with it.
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife:
but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns:
but the way of the righteous is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a glad father:
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom:
but a man of understanding walks straight.
22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed:
but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth:
and a word spoken in due season, how good!
24 The way of life is above to the wise,
that he may depart from beneath in Sheol.
25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud:
but he will establish the border of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD:
but the words of the pure are pleasant.
27 He who is greedy of gain troubles his own house;
but he who hates gifts shall live.
28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer:
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked:
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart;
and a good report makes fat the bones.
31 The ear that hears the reproof of life;
stays among the wise.
32 He who refuses instruction despises his own soul:
but he who hears reproof gets understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom:
and before honour is humility.
1 The preparations of the heart in man,
and the answer of the tongue, are from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
but the LORD weighs the spirits.
3 Turn Thy works to the LORD,
and Thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The LORD has made all things for Himself:
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:
though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even His enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness,
than great revenues without right.
9 A man's heart devises his way:
but the LORD directs his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king:
his mouth transgresses not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's:
all the weight-stones of the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness:
by righteousness is the throne established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings;
and they love him that speaks right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of a king's countenance is life;
and His favour is as a cloud of the Latter Rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold?
And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver?
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
he who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who handles a matter wisely shall find good:
and whoever trusts in the LORD, he is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a well-spring of life to him that has it:
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as a honey-comb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but the end of it are the ways of death.
26 He who labours, labours for himself;
for his mouth craves it of him.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil:
and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A man sows strife:
and a whisperer separates chief friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbour,
and leads him into the way that is not good.
30 He shuts his eyes to devise perversity:
moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,
if it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 Better is he that is slow to anger than the mighty;
and he who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap:
but the whole disposing of it is from the LORD.
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it,
than a house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame,
and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold:
but the LORD searches the hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips:
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
and he who is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men;
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool:
much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it:
wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love;
but he who repeats a matter separates very friends.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man,
than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion:
therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,
rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water:
therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
seeing he has to it no heart?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands,
and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife:
and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked heart finds no good:
and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 He who begets a fool does it to his sorrow:
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom,
to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding;
but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the Earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good,
nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He who has knowledge spares his words:
and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise:
and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself,
seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
but that his heart may reveal itself.
3 When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt,
and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,
and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked,
to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention,
and his mouth calls for strokes.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds,
and they go down into the inward parts of the belly.
9 He also that is slothful in his work,
is brother to him that is a great waster.
10 The Name of the LORD is a strong tower:
the righteous runs into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and as a high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
and before honour is humility.
13 He who answering a matter before he hears it,
it is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge;
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him,
and brings him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause seems just;
but his neighbour comes and searches him.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease,
and parts between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:
and their contentions are like the bars of a palace.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favour from the LORD.
23 The poor uses entreaties;
but the rich answers roughly.
24 A man of friends may be broken up,
but there is a Lover who sticks closer than a brother.
1 Better is the poor that walks in his integrity,
than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good;
and he who hastens with his feet sins.
3 The foolishness of man perverts his way:
and his heart frets against the LORD.
4 Wealth makes many friends;
but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished,
and he that speaks lies shall not escape.
6 Many will entreat the favour of the prince:
and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him:
how much more do his friends go far from him?
He pursues them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
8 He who gets heart[wisdom] loves his own soul:
he who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished,
and he that speaks lies shall perish.
10
Delight is not seemly for a fool;
much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The understanding of a man defers his anger;
and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion;
but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father:
and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers:
and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep;
and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the Commandment keeps his own soul;
but he who despises His ways shall die.
17 He who has pity upon the poor, lends to the LORD;
and that which has given will He pay him back.
18 Chasten Thy son while there is hope,
and let not Thy soul spare for his crying.
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment:
for if Thou deliver him, yet Thou must do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction,
that Thou may be wise in Thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man's heart;
nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
22 The desire of a man is his kindness:
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD tends to life:
and he that has it shall abide satisfied;
he shall not be visited with evil.
24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bosom,
and will not so much as bring it to his mouth back.
25 Smite a scorner and the simple will beware:
and reprove one that has understanding,
and he will understand knowledge.
26 He who wastes his father, and chases away his mother,
is a son that causes shame, and brings reproach.
27 Cease, My son, to hear the instruction,
that causes to stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness scorns judgment:
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners,
and stripes for the back of fools.
1 Wine is a mocker, shekar[strong drink] is raging:
and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:
but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter;
therefore shall he beg and have nothing in harvest.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:
but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walks in his integrity:
his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sits upon the throne of judgment,
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
10 A stone and a stone[diverse weights], and an ephah and an ephah[diverse measures],
are alike abomination to the LORD, even both of them.
11 Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest Thou come to poverty;
open Thy eyes, and Thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Bad, bad, said the buyer:
but when he is gone, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,
and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;
but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel:
and with good advice make war.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
but the end of it shall not be blessed.
22 Say not Thou, I will recompense evil;
but wait on the LORD, and He shall save Thee.
23 A stone and a stone[diverse weights] are an abomination to the LORD;
and a false balance is not good.
24 Man's goings are of the LORD;
how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devours that which is Holy,
and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked,
and brings the wheel over them.
27 The breath of man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king:
and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength:
and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleans away evil:
so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
1 As the rivers of water is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD,
He turns it wherever He will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes:
but the LORD ponders the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment,
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 A high look, and a proud heart,
and the ploughing of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue,
is a vanity tossed back and forth by them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them;
because they refuse to do judgment.
8 The way of man is perverse and strange:
but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of the roof,
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil:
his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise:
and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The Righteous wisely considers the house of the wicked:
and overthrows the wicked for their evilness.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
he also shall cry himself, but shall not be replied.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger:
and a reward in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment:
but destruction shall be to the workers of lawlessness.
16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding,
shall remain in the Congregation of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man:
he who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
and the transgressor for the upright.
19 Better to dwell in the wilderness,
than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the wise;
but a foolish man spends it up.
21 He who follows after righteousness and mercy,
finds life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
and casts down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue,
keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name,
who deals in proud wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful kills him;
for his hands refuse to labour.
26 He covets greedily all the day long:
but the righteous gives and spares not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:
how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?
28 A false witness shall perish:
but the man that hears speaks constantly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face:
but as for the upright, he directs his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding,
nor counsel against the LORD.
31 A horse is prepared against the day of battle:
but safety is from the LORD.
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together:
the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself;
but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD,
are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse:
he who does keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity shall reap vanity:
and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end;
yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He who loves pureness of heart,
for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man said, There is a lion outside,
I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit:
he who is abhorred by the LORD shall fall in it.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;
but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 [Part 3].
Bow down Thy ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply Thy heart to My knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if Thou keep them within Thee;
they shall together be fitted in Thy lips.
19 That Thy trust may be in the LORD,
I have made known to Thee this day, even to Thee.
20 Have not I written to Thee thirty sayings,
in counsels and knowledge,
21 that I might make Thee know the certainty of the words of truth;
that Thou might answer the words of truth to them that send to Thee?
22
1) Rob not the poor, because he is poor:
neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 for the LORD will plead their cause,
and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24
2) Make no friendship with an angry man;
and with a furious man Thou shall not go:
25 lest Thou learn his ways,
and get a snare to Thy soul.
26
3) Be not Thou one of them that strike hands,
or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If Thou have nothing to pay,
why should he take away Thy bed from under Thee?
28
4) Remove not the ancient landmark,
which Thy fathers have set.
29
5) See Thou a man diligent in his business?
He shall stand before kings.
He shall not stand before obscure men.
1
6) When Thou sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before Thee:
2 and put a knife to Thy throat,
if Thou are a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties:
for they are deceitful food.
4
7) Labour not to be rich:
cease from Thy own wisdom.
5 Will Thou set Thy eyes upon that which is not?
For riches certainly make to themselves wings;
they fly away as an eagle towards Heaven.
6
8) Eat Thou not the bread of him that has an evil eye,
neither desire Thou his dainties:
7 for as he thinks in his soul, so is he:
Eat and drink, said he to Thee;
but his heart is not with Thee.
8 The morsel which Thou have eaten shall Thou vomit up,
and lose Thy sweet words.
9
9) Speak not in the ears of a fool:
for he will despise the wisdom of Thy words.
10
10) Remove not the old landmark;
and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11 for their Redeemer is mighty;
He will plead their cause with Thee.
12
11) Apply Thy heart to instruction,
and Thy ears to the words of knowledge.
13
12) Withhold not correction from the child:
for if Thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from Sheol.
15
13) My son, if Thy heart be wise,
My heart shall rejoice, even Mine.
16 Yes, My reins shall rejoice,
when Thy lips speak right things.
17
14) Let not Thy heart envy sinners:
but be Thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18 For surely there is a future;
and Thy expectation shall not be cut off.
19
15) Hear Thou, My son, and be wise,
and guide Thy heart in the way.
20 Be not among wine-bibbers;
among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:
and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22
16) Listen to Thy father that begat Thee,
and despise not Thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom,
and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice:
and he who begets a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and Thy mother shall be glad,
and she who bore Thee shall rejoice.
26
17) My son, give Me Thy heart,
and let Thy eyes observe My ways.
27 For a whore is a deep pit;
and a strange woman is a narrow well.
28 She also lies in wait as for a prey,
and increases the transgressors among men.
29
18) Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has babbling?
Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine;
they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not Thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it gives its colour in the cup, when it moves itself aright.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent,
and stings like a cobra.
33 Thy eyes shall behold strange women,
and Thy heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Thou shall be as he who lies down in the heart of the sea,
or as he who lies upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, will Thou say, and I was not sick;
they have beaten me, and I felt it not:
when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
1
19) Be not Thou envious against evil men,
neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studies destruction,
and their lips talk of mischief.
3
20) Through wisdom is a house built;
and by understanding it is established:
4 and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled,
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5
21) A wise man is strong;
and a man of knowledge increases strength.
6 For by wise counsel Thou shall make Thy war:
and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7
22) Wisdom is too high for a fool:
he opens not his mouth in the gate.
8
23) He who devises to do evil,
shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin:
and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10
24) If Thou faintest in the day of adversity,
Thy strength is small.
11
25) If Thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death,
and those that are ready to be slain;
12 if Thou say, Behold, we knew it not;
does not He who ponders the hearts consider it?
And He who keeps Thy soul, does not He know it?
He shall render to every man according to his works. Psa 62:12
13
26) My son, eat Thou honey, because it is good;
and the honey-comb, which is sweet to Thy taste:
14 so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to Thy soul:
when Thou have found it, then there shall be a future,
and Thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15
27) Lay not wait, wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
destroy not his resting-place:
16 for a just man falls seven times, and rises again:
but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17
28) Rejoice not when Thy enemy falls,
and let not Thy heart be glad when he stumbles:
18 lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
and He turn away His wrath from him.
19
29) Fret not thyself because of evil men,
neither be Thou envious at the wicked;
20 for there shall be no reward to the evil man;
the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.
21
30) My son, fear Thou the LORD and the king:
and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 for their calamity shall rise suddenly;
and who knows the ruin of them both?
23 [Part 4]. (These things also belong to the wise).
It is not good to have respect of persons[favouritism] in judgment.
24 He who said to the wicked, Thou are righteous;
him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 but to them that rebuke him shall be delight,
and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26
Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
27
Prepare Thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field;
and afterwards build Thy house.
28
Be not a witness against Thy neighbour without cause;
and deceive not with Thy lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as He has done to me:
I will reward every man according to his works. Mat 16:27
30
I went by the field of the slothful man,
and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 and behold, it was all grown over with thorns,
and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well:
I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep: Pro 6:10
34 so shall Thy poverty come as one that travels,
and Thy want as an armed man.
1 [Part 5]. (These are also proverbs of Solomon,
copied out by the men of Hizkiah king of Judah).
2 It is the glory of GOD to conceal a thing:
but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The Heaven for height, and the Earth for depth,
and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,
and stand not in the place of great men:
7 for better it is that it be said to Thee, Come up here;
than that Thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
whom Thy eyes have seen.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive,
lest Thou know not what to do in the end of it,
when Thy neighbour has put Thee to shame.
9 Debate Thy cause with Thy neighbour himself;
and reveal not a secret to another:
10 lest He who hears it put Thee to shame,
and Thy infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As 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.
14 As the clouds and wind without rain,
so is whoever boasts himself of a false gift.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,
and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have Thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for Thee,
lest Thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw Thy foot from Thy neighbour's house;
lest he be weary of Thee, and so hate Thee.
18 A man that bears false witness against his neighbour is a maul,
and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble,
is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As he who takes away a garment in cold day, and as vinegar upon nitre;
so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If Thy enemy hungers, feed him;
if he thirsts, give him drink. Rom 12:20
22 For in so doing Thou shall heap coals of fire on his head, Rom 12:20
and the LORD will reward Thee.
23 The north wind brings forth rain:
so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Better to dwell in a corner of the roof,
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
26 As a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring,
so is a righteous man falling down before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey:
so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 He who has no rule over his own spirit,
is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest;
so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest Thou also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool,
cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal:
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Great is the Former of all things,
but he who hires a fool is who hires those passing by.
11 The dog having turned back to his own vomit; 2Pe 2:22
so a fool returns to his folly.
12 See Thou a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful man said, There is a lion in the way;
a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turns upon its hinges,
so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom;
it grieves him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit,
than seven men that can render a reason.
17 He who passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him,
is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a mad man who casts fire-brands, arrows, and death,
19 so is the man that deceives his neighbour, and said, Am I not joking?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goes out:
so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceases.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire;
so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds,
and they go down into the inward parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart,
are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates dissembles with his lips,
and lays up deceit within him;
25 when he speaks in flattery, believe him not:
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit,
his wickedness shall be shown before the whole Congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it:
and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it;
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow;
for Thou know not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise Thee, and not Thy own mouth;
a stranger, and not Thy own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty;
but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous;
but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Better is an open rebuke than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loathes a honey-comb;
but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest,
so is a man that wanders from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:
so does the sweetness of a man's friend by counsel of the soul.
10 Thy own friend, and Thy father's friend, forsake not;
neither go into Thy brother's house in the day of Thy calamity.
Better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
that I may answer him that reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself;
but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,
and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14 He who blesses his friend with a great voice, rising early in the morning,
it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day,
and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Whoever hides her hides the wind,
and the ointment of his right hand which cries out.
17 Iron sharpens iron;
so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 He who keeps the fig-tree shall eat the fruit of it:
so he who waits on his master shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answers to face,
so the heart of man to man.
20 Sheol and Abaddon[destruction] are never full;
so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the fining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold;
so is a man to his praise.
22 Though Thou should bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle,
yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Be Thou diligent to know the state of Thy flocks,
and look well to Thy herds.
24 For riches are not forever:
and does the crown endure from generation to generation?
25 The plant appears, and the tender grass shows itself,
and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for Thy clothing,
and the goats are the price of the field.
27 Thou shall have goats' milk enough for Thy food,
for the food of Thy household, and for maintenance for Thy maidens.
1 The wicked flee when no man pursues:
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are its princes:
but by a man of understanding and knowledge its state shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man that oppresses the poor,
is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.
4 They that forsake the Law praise the wicked:
but such as keep the Law contend with them.
5
Evil men understand not judgment:
but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walks in his uprightness,
than he that is perverse in his ways, though he is rich.
7 He who keeps the Law is a wise son:
but he who is a companion of riotous men shames his father.
8 He who by usury and unjust gain increases his substance,
he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the Law,
even his prayer shall be abomination.
10 Whoever causes the righteous to go astray in an evil way,
he shall fall himself into his own pit:
but the upright shall have good things in possession.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit;
but the poor man that has understanding searches him out.
12 When righteous men rejoice, there is the great glory:
but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13 He who covers his sins shall not prosper:
but he who confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
14 Blessed is the man that fears always:
but he who hardens his heart shall fall into mischief!
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear;
so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince that lacks understanding is also a great oppressor:
but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.
17
A man that does violence to the blood of any person,
shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 He who walks uprightly shall be saved:
but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread:
but he who follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings:
but he who makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons[favouritism] is not good:
even for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
22 He who hastens to be rich has an evil eye,
and considers not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a man afterward shall find more favour,
than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother, and said, It is no transgression;
the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He who is of a proud soul stirs up strife:
but he who puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool:
but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He who gives to the poor shall not want:
but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves:
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
1 He, that being often reproved hardens his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:
but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.
3 He who loves wisdom rejoices his father:
but he who keeps company with whores spends his substance.
4 The king by judgment establishes the land:
but he who receives gifts overthrows it.
5 A man that flatters his neighbour,
spreads a net for his feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare:
but the righteous does sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor:
but the wicked regards not to know it.
8 Scornful men blow upon a city:
but wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
whether he rages or laughs, there is no rest.
10 The blood-thirsty hate the upright:
but the just seek his soul.
11 A fool utters all his mind:
but a wise man keeps it in until afterwards.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his servants are wicked.
13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together:
the LORD enlightens both their eyes.
14 The king that faithfully judges the poor,
his throne shall be established forever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom:
but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases:
but the righteous shall see their fall.
17 Correct Thy son, and he shall give Thee rest;
yes, he shall give delight to Thy soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:
but he who keeps the Law, blessed is he.
19 A servant will not be corrected by words:
for though he understands, he will not answering.
20 See Thou a man that is hasty in his words?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
21 He who delicately brings up his servant from a child,
shall have him at length become his son.
22 An angry man stirs up strife,
and a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 A man's pride shall bring him low:
but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoever is partner with a thief, hates his own soul:
he hears cursing, and discloses it not.
25 The fear of man brings a snare:
but he who puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour;
but every man's judgment comes from the LORD.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just:
and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
1 [Part 6]. (The words of Agur the son of Jakeh,
even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal).
2
Surely, I am more brutish than any man,
and have not the understanding of a man.
3 I neither learned wisdom,
nor have the knowledge of the Holy.
4 Who has ascended into Heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the Earth?
What is His Name, and what is His Son's Name, if Thou can tell?
5 Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield to them that put their trust in Him.
6 Add Thou not to His words, lest He reprove Thee, and Thou be found a liar.
7
Two things have I required of Thee;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 remove far from me vanity and lies;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with food of my portion:
9 lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the LORD?
Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain.
10 Accuse not a servant to his master,
lest he curse Thee, and Thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose fangs are as swords, and their fangs as knives, to devour the poor from off the Earth, and the needy from among men.
15 A horse-leech has two daughters,
Give and Give more.
There are three things that are never satisfied,
yes, four things say not, It is enough:
16 Sheol; and the barren womb;
the Earth that is not filled with water;
and the fire that said not, It is enough.
17
The eye that mocks at its father,
and despises to obey its mother,
the ravens of the valley shall pick it out,
and the young eagles shall eat it.
18
There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
yes, four which I know not:
19 the way of an eagle in the air;
the way of a serpent upon a rock;
the way of a ship in the heart of the sea;
and the way of a man with a virgin.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman;
she eats, and wipes her mouth,
and said, I have done no wickedness.
21
For three things the Earth is disquieted,
and for four which it cannot bear.
22 For a servant when he reigns;
a fool when he is filled with food.
23 For a hateful woman when she is married;
and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24
There are four things which are little upon the Earth, but they are very wise:
25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 the rock hyraxes are not a mighty people, yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 the locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 the gecko takes hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces.
29
There are three things which go well,
yes, four are comely in going:
30 a lion, which is strongest among beasts,
and turns not away for any;
31 a greyhound, slender in its loins; also a he-goat;
and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
32 If Thou have done foolishly in lifting up thyself,
or if Thou have thought evil,
lay Thy hand upon Thy mouth.
33 Surely, the churning of milk brings forth butter,
and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood:
so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.
1 [Part 7]. (The words of king Lemuel,
the prophecy, which are taught by his mother).
2
What, My son? And what, the son of My womb?
And what, the son of My vows?
3 Give not Thy strength to women,
nor Thy ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes shekar[strong drink]:
5 lest they drink, and forget the Law,
and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give shekar[strong drink] to him that is ready to perish,
and wine to those that are bitter of soul.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
8 Open Thy mouth for the dumb,
in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open Thy mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 (A)A virtuous woman: who can find her?
For far above rubies is her price.
11 (B)Trusted by the heart of her husband,
so that he shall have of spoil no need.
12 (G)She will do him good and not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 (D)She seeks wool, and flax,
and works willingly with her hands.
14 (E)She is like the trade ships;
she brings from afar her food.
15 (V)And she rises also while it is yet night,
and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 (Z)She considers a field, and buys it:
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 (H)She girds her loins with strength,
and strengthens her arms.
18 (Th)She perceives that her merchandise is good:
what not goes out by night is her lamp.
19 (J)Her hands lays to the spindle,
and her hand palms hold the distaff.
20 (K)Her palms stretches out to the poor;
her hands reaches forth to the needy.
21 (L)Not afraid is she of the snow for her household:
for all her household are clothed in scarlet[double].
22 (M)Coverings of tapestry makes she;
in her clothing are fine linen and purple.
23 (N)Known is her husband in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 (X)Fine linen makes she, and sells it;
and delivers girdles to the trader.
25 (O)Strength and honour are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 (P)Her mouth opens with wisdom;
the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 (C)She watch to the ways of her household,
the bread of idleness does she not eat.
28 (Q)Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises.
29 (R)Many daughters have done virtuously,
but Thou excel them all.
30 (S)Deceitful is favour, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 (T)Give her of the fruit of her hands;
and let praise her in the gates with her own works.