Proverbs

¹The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

²to know wisdom and instruction;

³to receive instruction in wise dealing,

⁴to give prudence to the simple,

⁵that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;

⁶to understand a proverb and parables,

⁷The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge,

⁸My son, listen to your father’s instruction,

⁹for they will be a garland to grace your head,

¹⁰My son, if sinners entice you,

¹¹If they say, “Come with us.

¹²Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,

¹³We’ll find all valuable wealth.

¹⁴You shall cast your lot among us.

¹⁵my son, don’t walk on the path with them.

¹⁶for their feet run to evil.

¹⁷For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸but these lay in wait for their own blood.

¹⁹So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.

²⁰Wisdom calls aloud in the street.

²¹She calls at the head of noisy places.

²²“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

²³Turn at my reproof.

²⁴Because I have called, and you have refused;

²⁵but you have ignored all my counsel,

²⁶I also will laugh at your disaster.

²⁷when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

²⁸Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.

²⁹because they hated knowledge,

³⁰They wanted none of my counsel.

³¹Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,

³²For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.

³³But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,

¹My son, if you will receive my words,

²so as to turn your ear to wisdom,

³yes, if you call out for discernment,

⁴if you seek her as silver,

⁵then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,

⁶For Yahweh gives wisdom.

⁷He lays up sound wisdom for the upright.

⁸that he may guard the paths of justice,

⁹Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

¹⁰For wisdom will enter into your heart.

¹¹Discretion will watch over you.

¹²to deliver you from the way of evil,

¹³who forsake the paths of uprightness,

¹⁴who rejoice to do evil,

¹⁵who are crooked in their ways,

¹⁶to deliver you from the strange woman,

¹⁷who forsakes the friend of her youth,

¹⁸for her house leads down to death,

¹⁹None who go to her return again,

²⁰Therefore walk in the way of good men,

²¹For the upright will dwell in the land.

²²But the wicked will be cut off from the land.

¹My son, don’t forget my teaching,

²for they will add to you length of days,

³Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.

⁴So you will find favor,

⁵Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,

⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,

⁷Don’t be wise in your own eyes.

⁸It will be health to your body,

⁹Honor Yahweh with your substance,

¹⁰so your barns will be filled with plenty,

¹¹My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,

¹²for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects,

¹³Happy is the man who finds wisdom,

¹⁴For her good profit is better than getting silver,

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies.

¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand.

¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.

¹⁹By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.

²⁰By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,

²¹My son, let them not depart from your eyes.

²²so they will be life to your soul,

²³Then you shall walk in your way securely.

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid.

²⁵Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,

²⁶for Yahweh will be your confidence,

²⁷Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,

²⁸Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;

²⁹Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,

³⁰Don’t strive with a man without cause,

³¹Don’t envy the man of violence.

³²For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,

³³Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,

³⁴Surely he mocks the mockers,

³⁵The wise will inherit glory,

¹Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.

²for I give you sound learning.

³For I was a son to my father,

⁴He taught me, and said to me:

⁵Get wisdom.

⁶Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you.

⁷Wisdom is supreme.

⁸Esteem her, and she will exalt you.

⁹She will give to your head a garland of grace.

¹⁰Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.

¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom.

¹²When you go, your steps will not be hampered.

¹³Take firm hold of instruction.

¹⁴Don’t enter into the path of the wicked.

¹⁵Avoid it, and don’t pass by it.

¹⁶For they don’t sleep unless they do evil.

¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness

¹⁸But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light

¹⁹The way of the wicked is like darkness.

²⁰My son, attend to my words.

²¹Let them not depart from your eyes.

²²For they are life to those who find them,

²³Keep your heart with all diligence,

²⁴Put away from yourself a perverse mouth.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead.

²⁶Make the path of your feet level.

²⁷Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left.

¹My son, pay attention to my wisdom.

²that you may maintain discretion,

³For the lips of an adulteress drip honey.

⁴but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,

⁵Her feet go down to death.

⁶She gives no thought to the way of life.

⁷Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.

⁸Remove your way far from her.

⁹lest you give your honor to others,

¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth,

¹¹You will groan at your latter end,

¹²and say, “How I have hated instruction,

¹³I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers,

¹⁴I have come to the brink of utter ruin,

¹⁵Drink water out of your own cistern,

¹⁶Should your springs overflow in the streets,

¹⁷Let them be for yourself alone,

¹⁸Let your spring be blessed.

¹⁹A loving doe and a graceful deer—

²⁰For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress?

²¹For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes.

²²The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him.

²³He will die for lack of instruction.

¹My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor,

²you are trapped by the words of your mouth;

³Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself,

⁴Give no sleep to your eyes,

⁵Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

⁶Go to the ant, you sluggard.

⁷which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

⁸provides her bread in the summer,

⁹How long will you sleep, sluggard?

¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber,

¹¹so your poverty will come as a robber,

¹²A worthless person, a man of iniquity,

¹³who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,

¹⁴in whose heart is perverseness,

¹⁵Therefore his calamity will come suddenly.

¹⁶There are six things which Yahweh hates;

¹⁷arrogant eyes, a lying tongue,

¹⁸a heart that devises wicked schemes,

¹⁹a false witness who utters lies,

²⁰My son, keep your father’s commandment,

²¹Bind them continually on your heart.

²²When you walk, it will lead you.

²³For the commandment is a lamp,

²⁴to keep you from the immoral woman,

²⁵Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart,

²⁶For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread.

²⁷Can a man scoop fire into his lap,

²⁸Or can one walk on hot coals,

²⁹So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife.

³⁰Men don’t despise a thief

³¹but if he is found, he shall restore seven times.

³²He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding.

³³He will get wounds and dishonor.

³⁴For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband.

³⁵He won’t regard any ransom,

¹My son, keep my words.

²Keep my commandments and live!

³Bind them on your fingers.

⁴Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.”

⁵that they may keep you from the strange woman,

⁶For at the window of my house,

⁷I saw among the simple ones.

⁸passing through the street near her corner,

⁹in the twilight, in the evening of the day,

¹⁰Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute,

¹¹She is loud and defiant.

¹²Now she is in the streets, now in the squares,

¹³So she caught him, and kissed him.

¹⁴“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me.

¹⁵Therefore I came out to meet you,

¹⁶I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,

¹⁷I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning.

¹⁹For my husband isn’t at home.

²⁰He has taken a bag of money with him.

²¹With persuasive words, she led him astray.

²²He followed her immediately,

²³Until an arrow strikes through his liver,

²⁴Now therefore, sons, listen to me.

²⁵Don’t let your heart turn to her ways.

²⁶for she has thrown down many wounded.

²⁷Her house is the way to Sheol,

¹Doesn’t wisdom cry out?

²On the top of high places by the way,

³Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,

⁴“I call to you men!

⁵You simple, understand prudence!

⁶Hear, for I will speak excellent things.

⁷For my mouth speaks truth.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.

⁹They are all plain to him who understands,

¹⁰Receive my instruction rather than silver,

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies.

¹²“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.

¹³The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.

¹⁴Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.

¹⁵By me kings reign,

¹⁶By me princes rule,

¹⁷I love those who love me.

¹⁸With me are riches, honor,

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,

²¹that I may give wealth to those who love me.

²²“Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

²⁴When there were no depths, I was born,

²⁵Before the mountains were settled in place,

²⁶while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there.

²⁸when he established the clouds above,

²⁹when he gave to the sea its boundary,

³⁰then I was the craftsman by his side.

³¹rejoicing in his whole world.

³²“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

³³Hear instruction, and be wise.

³⁴Blessed is the man who hears me,

³⁵For whoever finds me finds life,

³⁶But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.

¹Wisdom has built her house.

²She has prepared her meat.

³She has sent out her maidens.

⁴“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

⁵“Come, eat some of my bread,

⁶Leave your simple ways, and live.

⁷One who corrects a mocker invites insult.

⁸Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.

⁹Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.

¹⁰The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.

¹³The foolish woman is loud,

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,

¹⁵to call to those who pass by,

¹⁶“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet.

¹⁸But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,

¹The proverbs of Solomon.

²Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,

³Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry,

⁴He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,

⁵He who gathers in summer is a wise son,

⁶Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

⁷The memory of the righteous is blessed,

⁸The wise in heart accept commandments,

⁹He who walks blamelessly walks surely,

¹⁰One who winks with the eye causes sorrow,

¹¹The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,

¹²Hatred stirs up strife,

¹³Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,

¹⁴Wise men lay up knowledge,

¹⁵The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.

¹⁶The labor of the righteous leads to life.

¹⁷He is in the way of life who heeds correction,

¹⁸He who hides hatred has lying lips.

¹⁹In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience,

²⁰The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.

²¹The lips of the righteous feed many,

²²Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth,

²³It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,

²⁴What the wicked fear will overtake them,

²⁵When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more;

²⁶As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,

²⁷The fear of Yahweh prolongs days,

²⁸The prospect of the righteous is joy,

²⁹The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright,

³⁰The righteous will never be removed,

³¹The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,

³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

¹A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,

²When pride comes, then comes shame,

³The integrity of the upright shall guide them,

⁴Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,

⁵The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,

⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,

⁷When a wicked man dies, hope perishes,

⁸A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,

⁹With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,

¹⁰When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.

¹¹By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted,

¹²One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom,

¹³One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,

¹⁴Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,

¹⁵He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,

¹⁶A gracious woman obtains honor,

¹⁷The merciful man does good to his own soul,

¹⁸Wicked people earn deceitful wages,

¹⁹He who is truly righteous gets life.

²⁰Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh,

²¹Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished,

²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,

²³The desire of the righteous is only good.

²⁴There is one who scatters, and increases yet more.

²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat.

²⁶People curse someone who withholds grain,

²⁷He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,

²⁸He who trusts in his riches will fall,

²⁹He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.

³¹Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth,

¹Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,

²A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh,

³A man shall not be established by wickedness,

⁴A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,

⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just,

⁶The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood,

⁷The wicked are overthrown, and are no more,

⁸A man shall be commended according to his wisdom,

⁹Better is he who is little known, and has a servant,

¹⁰A righteous man respects the life of his animal,

¹¹He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread,

¹²The wicked desires the plunder of evil men,

¹³An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips,

¹⁴A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.

¹⁵The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

¹⁶A fool shows his annoyance the same day,

¹⁷He who is truthful testifies honestly,

¹⁸There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,

¹⁹Truth’s lips will be established forever,

²⁰Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,

²¹No mischief shall happen to the righteous,

²²Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,

²³A prudent man keeps his knowledge,

²⁴The hands of the diligent ones shall rule,

²⁵Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,

²⁶A righteous person is cautious in friendship,

²⁷The slothful man doesn’t roast his game,

²⁸In the way of righteousness is life;

¹A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,

²By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,

³He who guards his mouth guards his soul.

⁴The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,

⁵A righteous man hates lies,

⁶Righteousness guards the way of integrity,

⁷There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.

⁸The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,

⁹The light of the righteous shines brightly,

¹⁰Pride only breeds quarrels,

¹¹Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,

¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

¹³Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,

¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,

¹⁵Good understanding wins favor,

¹⁶Every prudent man acts from knowledge,

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

¹⁸Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,

¹⁹Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

²⁰One who walks with wise men grows wise,

²¹Misfortune pursues sinners,

²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

²³An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,

²⁴One who spares the rod hates his son,

²⁵The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul,

¹Every wise woman builds her house,

²He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,

³The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,

⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,

⁵A truthful witness will not lie,

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,

⁷Stay away from a foolish man,

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,

⁹Fools mock at making atonement for sins,

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;

¹¹The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

¹²There is a way which seems right to a man,

¹³Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,

¹⁴The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;

¹⁵A simple man believes everything,

¹⁶A wise man fears and shuns evil,

¹⁷He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,

¹⁸The simple inherit folly,

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good,

²⁰The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor,

²¹He who despises his neighbor sins,

²²Don’t they go astray who plot evil?

²³In all hard work there is profit,

²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches,

²⁵A truthful witness saves souls,

²⁶In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress,

²⁷The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,

²⁸In the multitude of people is the king’s glory,

²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

³⁰The life of the body is a heart at peace,

³¹He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,

³²The wicked is brought down in his calamity,

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation,

³⁵The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely,

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath,

²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

³Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,

⁴A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

⁵A fool despises his father’s correction,

⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure,

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

⁸The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

¹⁰There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.

¹¹and Abaddon are before Yahweh—

¹²A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;

¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

¹⁴The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched,

¹⁶Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh,

¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,

¹⁸A wrathful man stirs up contention,

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,

²⁰A wise son makes a father glad,

²¹Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,

²²Where there is no counsel, plans fail;

²³Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise,

²⁵Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,

²⁶Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked,

²⁷He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs answers,

²⁹Yahweh is far from the wicked,

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.

³¹The ear that listens to reproof lives,

³²He who refuses correction despises his own soul,

³³The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.

¹The plans of the heart belong to man,

²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,

³Commit your deeds to Yahweh,

⁴Yahweh has made everything for its own end—

⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;

⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.

⁷When a man’s ways please Yahweh,

⁸Better is a little with righteousness,

⁹A man’s heart plans his course,

¹⁰Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king.

¹¹Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s;

¹²It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings.

¹⁴The king’s wrath is a messenger of death,

¹⁵In the light of the king’s face is life.

¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction,

¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,

²⁰He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.

²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent.

²²Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,

²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man,

²⁶The appetite of the laboring man labors for him,

²⁷A worthless man devises mischief.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up strife.

²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor,

³⁰One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,

³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory.

³²One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

³³The lot is cast into the lap,

¹Better is a dry morsel with quietness,

²A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,

³The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,

⁴An evildoer heeds wicked lips.

⁵Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.

⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men;

⁷Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,

⁸A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;

⁹He who covers an offense promotes love;

¹⁰A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion;

¹²Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,

¹³Whoever rewards evil for good,

¹⁴The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,

¹⁵He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,

¹⁶Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

¹⁷A friend loves at all times;

¹⁸A man void of understanding strikes hands,

¹⁹He who loves disobedience loves strife.

²⁰One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,

²¹He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.

²²A cheerful heart makes good medicine,

²³A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,

²⁴Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,

²⁵A foolish son brings grief to his father,

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good,

²⁷He who spares his words has knowledge.

²⁸Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.

¹A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,

²A fool has no delight in understanding,

³When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters.

⁵To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good,

⁶A fool’s lips come into strife,

⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction,

⁸The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels:

⁹One who is slack in his work

¹⁰Yahweh’s name is a strong tower:

¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is proud,

¹³He who answers before he hears,

¹⁴A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness,

¹⁵The heart of the discerning gets knowledge.

¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him,

¹⁷He who pleads his cause first seems right—

¹⁸The lot settles disputes,

¹⁹A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city.

²⁰A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

²²Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,

²³The poor plead for mercy,

²⁴A man of many companions may be ruined,

¹Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

²It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge,

³The foolishness of man subverts his way;

⁴Wealth adds many friends,

⁵A false witness shall not be unpunished.

⁶Many will entreat the favor of a ruler,

⁷All the relatives of the poor shun him;

⁸He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.

⁹A false witness shall not be unpunished.

¹⁰Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool,

¹¹The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger.

¹²The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

¹³A foolish son is the calamity of his father.

¹⁴House and riches are an inheritance from fathers,

¹⁵Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep.

¹⁶He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

¹⁷He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh;

¹⁸Discipline your son, for there is hope;

¹⁹A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty,

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

²¹There are many plans in a man’s heart,

²²That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness.

²³The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment;

²⁴The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

²⁵Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

²⁶He who robs his father and drives away his mother

²⁷If you stop listening to instruction, my son,

²⁸A corrupt witness mocks justice,

²⁹Penalties are prepared for scoffers,

¹Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.

²The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.

³It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;

⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,

⁶Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,

⁷A righteous man walks in integrity.

⁸A king who sits on the throne of judgment

⁹Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.

¹⁰Differing weights and differing measures,

¹¹Even a child makes himself known by his doings,

¹²The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,

¹³Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.

¹⁴“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;

¹⁵There is gold and abundance of rubies,

¹⁶Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;

¹⁷Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,

¹⁸Plans are established by advice;

¹⁹He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;

²⁰Whoever curses his father or his mother,

²¹An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning

²²Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”

²³Yahweh detests differing weights,

²⁴A man’s steps are from Yahweh;

²⁵It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,

²⁶A wise king winnows out the wicked,

²⁷The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,

²⁸Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength.

³⁰Wounding blows cleanse away evil,

¹The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses.

²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

³To do righteousness and justice

⁴A high look and a proud heart,

⁵The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;

⁶Getting treasures by a lying tongue

⁷The violence of the wicked will drive them away,

⁸The way of the guilty is devious,

⁹It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop

¹⁰The soul of the wicked desires evil;

¹¹When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.

¹²The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,

¹³Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,

¹⁴A gift in secret pacifies anger,

¹⁵It is joy to the righteous to do justice;

¹⁶The man who wanders out of the way of understanding

¹⁷He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.

¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,

¹⁹It is better to dwell in a desert land,

²⁰There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,

²¹He who follows after righteousness and kindness

²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty,

²³Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue

²⁴The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name—

²⁵The desire of the sluggard kills him,

²⁶There are those who covet greedily all day long;

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—

²⁸A false witness will perish.

²⁹A wicked man hardens his face;

³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding

³¹The horse is prepared for the day of battle;

¹A good name is more desirable than great riches,

²The rich and the poor have this in common:

³A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;

⁴The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh

⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked;

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go,

⁷The rich rule over the poor.

⁸He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,

⁹He who has a generous eye will be blessed,

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out;

¹¹He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully

¹²Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge,

¹³The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit.

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;

¹⁶Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,

¹⁷Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.

¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,

¹⁹I teach you today, even you,

²⁰Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things

²¹To teach you truth, reliable words,

²²Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor;

²³for Yahweh will plead their case,

²⁴Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man.

²⁵lest you learn his ways

²⁶Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,

²⁷If you don’t have means to pay,

²⁸Don’t move the ancient boundary stone

²⁹Do you see a man skilled in his work?

¹When you sit to eat with a ruler,

²put a knife to your throat

³Don’t be desirous of his dainties,

⁴Don’t weary yourself to be rich.

⁵Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?

⁶Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye,

⁷for as he thinks about the cost, so he is.

⁸You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten

⁹Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,

¹⁰Don’t move the ancient boundary stone.

¹¹for their Defender is strong.

¹²Apply your heart to instruction,

¹³Don’t withhold correction from a child.

¹⁴Punish him with the rod,

¹⁵My son, if your heart is wise,

¹⁶Yes, my heart will rejoice

¹⁷Don’t let your heart envy sinners,

¹⁸Indeed surely there is a future hope,

¹⁹Listen, my son, and be wise,

²⁰Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine,

²¹for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor;

²²Listen to your father who gave you life,

²³Buy the truth, and don’t sell it.

²⁴The father of the righteous has great joy.

²⁵Let your father and your mother be glad!

²⁶My son, give me your heart;

²⁷For a prostitute is a deep pit;

²⁸Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,

²⁹Who has woe?

³⁰Those who stay long at the wine;

³¹Don’t look at the wine when it is red,

³²In the end, it bites like a snake,

³³Your eyes will see strange things,

³⁴Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea,

³⁵“They hit me, and I was not hurt!

¹Don’t be envious of evil men,

²for their hearts plot violence

³Through wisdom a house is built;

⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled

⁵A wise man has great power.

⁶for by wise guidance you wage your war,

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool.

⁸One who plots to do evil

⁹The schemes of folly are sin.

¹⁰If you falter in the time of trouble,

¹¹Rescue those who are being led away to death!

¹²If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,”

¹³My son, eat honey, for it is good,

¹⁴so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul.

¹⁵Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous.

¹⁶for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again,

¹⁷Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.

¹⁸lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him,

¹⁹Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers,

²⁰for there will be no reward to the evil man.

²¹My son, fear Yahweh and the king.

²²for their calamity will rise suddenly.

²³These also are sayings of the wise:

²⁴He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”

²⁵but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,

²⁶An honest answer

²⁷Prepare your work outside,

²⁸Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause.

²⁹Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;

³⁰I went by the field of the sluggard,

³¹Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.

³²Then I saw, and considered well.

³³a little sleep, a little slumber,

³⁴so your poverty will come as a robber

¹These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,

³As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

⁴Take away the dross from the silver,

⁵Take away the wicked from the king’s presence,

⁶Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,

⁷for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”

⁸Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court.

⁹Debate your case with your neighbor,

¹⁰lest one who hears it put you to shame,

¹¹A word fitly spoken

¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,

¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

¹⁴As clouds and wind without rain,

¹⁵By patience a ruler is persuaded.

¹⁶Have you found honey?

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

¹⁸A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor

¹⁹Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble

²⁰As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,

²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.

²²for you will heap coals of fire on his head,

²³The north wind produces rain;

²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop

²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

²⁶Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey,

²⁸Like a city that is broken down and without walls

¹Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,

²Like a fluttering sparrow,

³A whip is for the horse,

⁴Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly,

⁶One who sends a message by the hand of a fool

⁷Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,

⁸As one who binds a stone in a sling,

⁹Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

¹⁰As an archer who wounds all,

¹¹As a dog that returns to his vomit,

¹²Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

¹³The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges,

¹⁵The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

¹⁷Like one who grabs a dog’s ears

¹⁸Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

¹⁹is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

²⁰For lack of wood a fire goes out.

²¹As coals are to hot embers,

²²The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

²³Like silver dross on an earthen vessel

²⁴A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,

²⁵When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,

²⁶His malice may be concealed by deception,

²⁷Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it hurts;

¹Don’t boast about tomorrow;

²Let another man praise you,

³A stone is heavy,

⁴Wrath is cruel,

⁵Better is open rebuke

⁶The wounds of a friend are faithful,

⁷A full soul loathes a honeycomb;

⁸As a bird that wanders from her nest,

⁹Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart;

¹⁰Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend.

¹¹Be wise, my son,

¹²A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge;

¹³Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger.

¹⁴He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,

¹⁵A continual dropping on a rainy day

¹⁶restraining her is like restraining the wind,

¹⁷Iron sharpens iron;

¹⁸Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit.

¹⁹Like water reflects a face,

²⁰and Abaddon are never satisfied;

²¹The crucible is for silver,

²²Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,

²³Know well the state of your flocks,

²⁴for riches are not forever,

²⁵The hay is removed, and the new growth appears,

²⁶The lambs are for your clothing,

²⁷There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food,

¹The wicked flee when no one pursues;

²In rebellion, a land has many rulers,

³A needy man who oppresses the poor

⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked;

⁵Evil men don’t understand justice;

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

⁷Whoever keeps the law is a wise son;

⁸He who increases his wealth by excessive interest

⁹He who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

¹⁰Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes;

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

¹³He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper,

¹⁴Blessed is the man who always fears;

¹⁵As a roaring lion or a charging bear,

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment.

¹⁷A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death.

¹⁸Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe;

¹⁹One who works his land will have an abundance of food;

²⁰A faithful man is rich with blessings;

²¹To show partiality is not good,

²²A stingy man hurries after riches,

²³One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,”

²⁵One who is greedy stirs up strife;

²⁶One who trusts in himself is a fool;

²⁷One who gives to the poor has no lack;

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

¹He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck

²When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

³Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father;

⁴The king by justice makes the land stable,

⁵A man who flatters his neighbor

⁶An evil man is snared by his sin,

⁷The righteous care about justice for the poor.

⁸Mockers stir up a city,

⁹If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity;

¹¹A fool vents all of his anger,

¹²If a ruler listens to lies,

¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

¹⁴The king who fairly judges the poor,

¹⁵The rod of correction gives wisdom,

¹⁶When the wicked increase, sin increases;

¹⁷Correct your son, and he will give you peace;

¹⁸Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;

¹⁹A servant can’t be corrected by words.

²⁰Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

²¹He who pampers his servant from youth

²²An angry man stirs up strife,

²³A man’s pride brings him low,

²⁴Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul.

²⁵The fear of man proves to be a snare,

²⁶Many seek the ruler’s favor,

²⁷A dishonest man detests the righteous,

¹The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation:

²“Surely I am the most ignorant man,

³I have not learned wisdom,

⁴Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended?

⁵“Every word of God is flawless.

⁶Don’t you add to his words,

⁷“Two things I have asked of you.

⁸Remove far from me falsehood and lies.

⁹lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’

¹⁰“Don’t slander a servant to his master,

¹¹There is a generation that curses their father,

¹²There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,

¹³There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes!

¹⁴There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,

¹⁵“The leech has two daughters:

¹⁶Sheol,

¹⁷“The eye that mocks at his father,

¹⁸“There are three things which are too amazing for me,

¹⁹The way of an eagle in the air,

²⁰“So is the way of an adulterous woman:

²¹“For three things the earth trembles,

²²For a servant when he is king,

²³for an unloved woman when she is married,

²⁴“There are four things which are little on the earth,

²⁵The ants are not a strong people,

²⁶The hyraxes are but a feeble folk,

²⁷The locusts have no king,

²⁸You can catch a lizard with your hands,

²⁹“There are three things which are stately in their march,

³⁰The lion, which is mightiest among animals,

³¹the greyhound;

³²“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself,

³³For as the churning of milk produces butter,

¹The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:

²“Oh, my son!

³Don’t give your strength to women,

⁴It is not for kings, Lemuel,

⁵lest they drink, and forget the law,

⁶Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,

⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

⁸Open your mouth for the mute,

⁹Open your mouth, judge righteously,

¹⁰Who can find a worthy woman?

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her.

¹²She does him good, and not harm,

¹³She seeks wool and flax,

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships.

¹⁵She rises also while it is yet night,

¹⁶She considers a field, and buys it.

¹⁷She arms her waist with strength,

¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

¹⁹She lays her hands to the distaff,

²⁰She opens her arms to the poor;

²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

²²She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.

²³Her husband is respected in the gates,

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing.

²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom.

²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,

²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed.

²⁹“Many women do noble things,

³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands!