Proverbs 10-20
New Life Version
The Wise Sayings of Solomon, Chapters 10 through 29
10 The sayings of Solomon:
A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
2 Riches taken by wrong-doing do no good, but doing what is right and good saves from death.
3 The Lord will not let those who are right with Him go hungry, but He puts to one side the desire of the sinful.
4 He who works with a lazy hand is poor, but the hand of the hard worker brings riches.
5 A son who gathers in summer is wise, but a son who sleeps during gathering time brings shame.
6 Good things are given to those who are right with God, but the mouth of the sinful hides trouble.
7 Those who are right with God are remembered with honor, but the name of the sinful will waste away.
8 The wise in heart will receive teaching, but a fast talking fool will become nothing.
9 He who is right in his walk is sure in his steps, but he who takes the wrong way will be found out.
10 He who winks the eye causes trouble, and a fast talking fool will become nothing.
11 The mouth of the one who is right with God is a well of life, but the mouth of the sinful hides trouble.
12 Hate starts fights, but love covers all sins.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a stick is for the back of him who has no understanding.
14 Wise men store up learning, but the foolish will be destroyed with their mouths.
15 The riches of a rich man are his strength, but the need of the poor is what destroys them.
16 The pay earned by those who are right with God is life, but the sinful are paid by being punished.
17 He who listens to teaching is on the path of life, but he who will not listen to strong words goes the wrong way.
18 He who hides hate has lying lips, and he who talks to hurt people is a fool.
19 The one who talks much will for sure sin, but he who is careful what he says is wise.
20 The tongue of those who are right with God is like fine silver, but the heart of the sinful is not worth much.
21 The lips of those who are right with God feed many, but fools die for want of understanding.
22 The good that comes from the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wrong is like play to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 What the sinful man is afraid of will come upon him, and what is wanted by the man who is right with God will be given to him.
25 When the storm passes, the sinful man is no more, but the man who is right with God has a place to stand forever.
26 Like sour wine to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.
27 The fear of the Lord makes life longer, but the years of the sinful will be cut off.
28 The hope of those who are right with God is joy, but the hope of the sinful comes to nothing.
29 The way of the Lord is a strong-place to those who are faithful, but it destroys those who do wrong.
30 Those who are right with God will never be shaken, but the sinful will not live in the land.
31 The mouth of those who are right with God flows with wisdom, but the sinful tongue will be stopped.
32 The lips of those who are right with God speak what is pleasing to others, but the mouth of the sinful speaks only what is bad.
11 The Lord hates a false weight, but a true weight is His joy.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but wisdom is with those who have no pride.
3 The honor of good people will lead them, but those who hurt others will be destroyed by their own false ways.
4 Riches are of no use in the day of God’s anger, but being right with God saves from death.
5 Those right with God, who are without blame, make a straight way for themselves, but the sinful will fall by their own wrong-doing.
6 Being right with God will save the honest man, but those who hurt others will be trapped by their wrong desires.
7 When a sinful man dies, his hope dies with him, and all his power comes to nothing.
8 The one who is right with God is kept from trouble, but the sinful get into trouble instead.
9 The sinful man destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but those who are fair will be saved through knowing God.
10 The city is glad when everything goes well with those who are right with God, and there are shouts of joy when the sinful are destroyed.
11 A city is honored by the good things that come to the faithful, but it is torn down by the mouth of the sinful.
12 He who hates his neighbor does not think well, but a man of understanding keeps quiet.
13 He who is always telling stories makes secrets known, but he who can be trusted keeps a thing hidden.
14 A nation falls where there is no wise leading, but it is safe where there are many wise men who know what to do.
15 He who puts himself as trust for what a stranger owes to another will suffer for it, but he who hates to be trusted for what another owes is safe.
16 A kind woman gets honor, and bad men get riches.
17 The man who shows loving-kindness does himself good, but the man without pity hurts himself.
18 The sinful man earns false pay, but he who spreads what is right and good gets pay that is sure.
19 He who will not be moved from being right with God will live, but he who goes for what is bad will bring about his own death.
20 The Lord hates those who are sinful in heart, but those who walk without blame are His joy.
21 Know for sure that the sinful man will not go without being punished, but the children of those who are right with God will be saved.
22 A beautiful woman who does not think well is like a gold ring in the nose of a pig.
23 The desire of those who are right with God is only good, but the hope of the sinful is anger.
24 There is one who is free in giving, and yet he grows richer. And there is one who keeps what he should give, but he ends up needing more.
25 The man who gives much will have much, and he who helps others will be helped himself.
26 The people curse him who keeps grain for himself, but good comes to him who sells it.
27 He who looks for good finds favor, but he who looks for wrong-doing will have bad come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but those who are right with God will grow like a green leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house will be given the wind, and the foolish will serve those with a wise heart.
30 The fruit of those who are right with God is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If those who are right with God will be paid on earth, how much more the sinful and the wrong-doer!
12 Whoever loves strong teaching loves much learning, but he who hates strong words is foolish.
2 A good man will get favor from the Lord, but He will punish a man who makes sinful plans.
3 A man will not stand by doing what is wrong, but the root of those who are right with God will not be moved.
4 A good wife is the pride and joy of her husband, but she who brings shame is like cancer to his bones.
5 The thoughts of those who are right with God can be trusted, but the words of the sinful are false.
6 The words of the sinful lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the faithful will take them away from trouble.
7 The sinful are destroyed and are no more, but the house of those who are right with God will stand.
8 A man will be praised for his wisdom, but a man with a sinful mind will be hated.
9 A man who has only a little honor and has a servant is better than one who honors himself and does not have bread.
10 A man who is right with God cares for his animal, but the sinful man is hard and has no pity.
11 He who works his land will have all the bread he needs, but he who follows what is of no worth has no wisdom.
12 The sinful man wants what sinful men have, but the root of those who are right with God gives fruit.
13 A sinful man is trapped by the sin of his lips, but those who are right with God will get away from trouble.
14 A man will be filled with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to good teaching.
16 The anger of a fool is known at once, but a wise man does not speak when he is spoken against.
17 He who speaks the truth tells what is right, but a liar tells lies.
18 There is one whose foolish words cut like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Lips that tell the truth will last forever, but a lying tongue lasts only for a little while.
20 Lying is in the heart of those who plan what is bad, but those who plan peace have joy.
21 No trouble comes upon those who are right with God, but the sinful are filled with trouble.
22 The Lord hates lying lips, but those who speak the truth are His joy.
23 A wise man hides how much learning he has, but the heart of fools makes known their foolish way.
24 The hand of those who do their best will rule, but the lazy hand will be made to work.
25 Worry in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.
26 The man who is right with God is a teacher to his neighbor, but the way of the sinful leads them the wrong way.
27 The lazy man will not cook the food he has caught, but the man who does his best has what is of great worth.
28 Life is in the way of those who are right with God, and in its path there is no death.
13 A wise son listens when his father tells him the right way, but one who laughs at the truth does not listen when strong words are spoken to him.
2 The one who is careful what he says will have good come to him, but the one who wants to hurt others will have trouble.
3 He who watches over his mouth keeps his life. He who opens his lips wide will be destroyed.
4 The soul of the lazy person has strong desires but gets nothing, but the soul of the one who does his best gets more than he needs.
5 A man who is right with God hates lies, but the actions of a sinful man are hated and he is put to shame.
6 What is right and good watches over the one whose way is without blame, but sin destroys the sinful.
7 There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, but has many riches.
8 A rich man can use his riches to save his life, but the poor man does not hear strong words spoken to him.
9 Those who are right with God are full of light, but the lamp of the sinful will be put out.
10 Fighting comes only from pride, but wisdom is with those who listen when told what they should do.
11 Riches taken by false ways become less and less, but riches grow for the one who gathers by hard work.
12 Hope that is put off makes the heart sick, but a desire that comes into being is a tree of life.
13 He who hates the Word is under its power, but he who fears the Word will be well paid.
14 The teaching of the wise is a well of life, to save one from the nets of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the sinful is hard.
16 Every wise man acts with much learning, but a fool makes his foolish way known.
17 A sinful helper falls into trouble, but a faithful helper brings healing.
18 He who will not listen to strong teaching will become poor and ashamed, but he who listens when strong words are spoken will be honored.
19 A desire that is filled is sweet to the soul, but fools hate to give up what is sinful.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.
21 Trouble follows sinners, but good things will be given to those who are right with God.
22 A good man leaves what he owns for his children’s children. The riches of the sinner are stored up for those who are right with God.
23 Much food is in the plowed land of the poor, but it is taken away because of wrong-doing.
24 He who does not punish his son when he needs it hates him, but he who loves him will punish him when he needs it.
25 The man who is right with God has all the food he needs, but the stomach of the sinful man never has enough.
14 The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in honor fears the Lord, but he who is sinful in his ways hates Him.
3 A foolish man’s talk brings a stick to his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
4 There is no grain where there are no oxen, but much grain comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful man who tells what he knows will not lie, but the man who is not faithful will lie.
6 One who laughs at the truth looks for wisdom and does not find it, but much learning is easy to him who has understanding.
7 Go away from a foolish man, for you will not find words of much learning.
8 The wisdom of the wise man is to understand what to do, but lying is the foolish way of fools.
9 Fools laugh at sin, but the favor of God is among the faithful.
10 The heart knows when it is bitter, and a stranger cannot share its joy.
11 The house of the sinful will be destroyed, but all will go well in the tent of the faithful.
12 There is a way which looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
13 Even while laughing the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be sorrow.
14 The man who has gone back into sin will get the fruit of his ways, and a good man will get the fruit of what he does.
15 The one who is easy to fool believes everything, but the wise man looks where he goes.
16 A wise man fears God and turns away from what is sinful, but a fool is full of pride and is not careful.
17 He who has a quick temper acts in a foolish way, and a man who makes sinful plans is hated.
18 Those who are easy to fool are foolish, but the wise have much learning.
19 Sinful men will bow in front of the good, and at the gates of those who are right with God.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but the rich man has many friends.
21 He who hates his neighbor sins, but happy is he who shows loving-favor to the poor.
22 Do not those who make sinful plans go the wrong way? Kindness and truth are for those who plan good.
23 Some good comes from all work. Nothing but talk leads only to being poor.
24 What the wise receive is their riches, but fools are known by their foolish ways.
25 A faithful man who tells what he knows saves lives, but he who tells lies hurts others.
26 There is strong trust in the fear of the Lord, and His children will have a safe place.
27 The fear of the Lord is a well of life. Its waters keep a man from death.
28 The shining-greatness of a king is in many people, but without people a prince has nothing.
29 He who is slow to get angry has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper makes his foolish way look right.
30 A heart that has peace is life to the body, but wrong desires are like the wasting away of the bones.
31 He who makes it hard for the poor brings shame to his Maker, but he who shows loving-favor to those in need honors Him.
32 The sinful is thrown down by his wrong-doing, but the man who is right with God has a safe place when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Being right with God makes a nation great, but sin is a shame to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his anger is toward the one who brings shame by what he does.
15 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a sharp word causes anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses much learning in a good way, but the mouth of fools speaks in a foolish way.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the bad and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a sinful tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool turns away from the strong teaching of his father, but he who remembers the strong words spoken to him is wise.
6 Great riches are in the house of those who are right with God, but trouble is what the sinful will receive.
7 The lips of the wise spread much learning, but the minds of fools do not.
8 The Lord hates the gifts of the sinful, but the prayer of the faithful is His joy.
9 The Lord hates the way of the sinful, but He loves him who follows what is right and good.
10 He who turns from the right way will be punished. He who hates strong words spoken to him will die.
11 The world of the dead lies open before the Lord. How much more the hearts of men!
12 A man who laughs at the truth has no love for the one who speaks strong words to him. He will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a happy face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of him who has understanding looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.
15 All the days of the suffering are hard, but a glad heart has a special supper all the time.
16 A little with the fear of the Lord is better than great riches with trouble.
17 A dish of vegetables with love is better than eating the best meat with hate.
18 A man with a bad temper starts fights, but he who is slow to anger quiets fighting.
19 The path of the lazy man is grown over with thorns, but the path of the faithful is a good road.
20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man hates his mother.
21 A foolish way is joy to him who has no wisdom, but a man of understanding walks straight.
22 Plans go wrong without talking together, but they will go well when many wise men talk about what to do.
23 To give a good answer is a joy to a man, and how pleasing is a word given at the right time!
24 The path of life leads up for the wise, so he may keep away from hell below.
25 The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but He will make a place for the woman whose husband has died.
26 The Lord hates the plans of the sinful, but the words of the pure are pleasing to Him.
27 He who gets things by doing wrong brings trouble to his family, but he who will not be paid in secret for wrong-doing will live.
28 The mind of the one who is right with God thinks about how to answer, but the mouth of the sinful pours out sinful things.
29 The Lord is far from the sinful, but He hears the prayer of those who are right with Him.
30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad. Good news puts fat on the bones.
31 He whose ear listens to careful words spoken will live among the wise.
32 He who does not listen to strong teaching hates himself, but he who listens when strong words are spoken gets understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the teaching for wisdom, and having no pride comes before honor.
16 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart.
3 Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.
4 The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.
6 Sin has been paid for by loving-kindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.
7 When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even those who hate him to be at peace with him.
8 A little earned in a right way is better than much earned in a wrong way.
9 The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do.
10 The lips of the king should decide as God would. His mouth should not sin in deciding what is right or wrong.
11 What is fair in telling the weight of something belongs to the Lord. He cares about all the weights of the bag.
12 It is a hated thing for kings to do what is wrong. For a throne is built on what is right.
13 Lips that speak what is right and good are the joy of kings, and he who speaks the truth is loved.
14 The anger of a king carries death, but a wise man will quiet it.
15 Life is in the light of a king’s face, and his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.
16 To get wisdom is much better than getting gold. To get understanding should be chosen instead of silver.
17 The road of the faithful turns away from sin. He who watches his way keeps his life.
18 Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes before a fall.
19 It is better to be poor in spirit among poor people, than to divide the riches that were taken with the proud.
20 He who listens to the Word will find good, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart will be called understanding. And to speak in a pleasing way helps people know what you say is right.
22 Understanding is a well of life to him who has it, but to speak strong words to fools is of no use.
23 The heart of the wise has power over his mouth and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasing words are like honey. They are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 A workman’s hunger works for him. The need of his mouth pushes him on.
27 A man of no worth looks for wrong-doing. His words are like burning fire.
28 A bad man spreads trouble. One who hurts people with bad talk separates good friends.
29 A man who hurts people tempts his neighbor to do the same, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes plans to do bad things. He who closes his lips allows sinful things to happen.
31 Hair that is turning white is like a crown of honor. It is found in the way of being right with God.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city.
33 Man decides by throwing an object into the lap, but it is the Lord only who decides.
17 A dry piece of food with peace and quiet is better than a house full of food with fighting.
2 A servant who is wise in what he does will rule over a son who acts in shame. He will share in what is given as one of the brothers.
3 The melting-pot is for silver and the hot fire is for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.
4 A wrong-doer listens to sinful lips. A liar listens to a tongue that destroys.
5 He who laughs at the poor brings shame to his Maker. He who is glad at trouble will be punished.
6 Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old men and a son is proud of his father.
7 Fine speaking is not right for a fool. Even worse are lying lips to a ruler.
8 Being paid in secret for wrong-doing is like a stone of much worth to the one who has it. Wherever he turns, he does well.
9 He who covers a sin looks for love. He who tells of trouble separates good friends.
10 A man of understanding learns more from being told the right thing to do than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.
11 A man who will not obey looks only for what is bad. So one who has no loving-pity will be sent against him.
12 A man meeting a bear robbed of her little ones is better than meeting a fool in his foolish way.
13 If a man returns bad for good, trouble will not leave his house.
14 The beginning of trouble is like letting out water. So stop arguing before fighting breaks out.
15 He who says that the sinful are right, and he who says those who do right are wrong, both are hated by the Lord.
16 It does a fool no good to try to buy wisdom, when he has no understanding.
17 A friend loves at all times. A brother is born to share troubles.
18 A man without good thinking makes promises, and becomes a trust for what another man owes his neighbor.
19 He who loves sin loves making trouble. He who opens his door wide for trouble is looking for a way to be destroyed.
20 He who has a sinful heart finds no good. He who has a sinful tongue falls into sin.
21 A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A sinful man receives pay in secret to change the right way into wrong-doing.
24 Wisdom is with the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and trouble to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is not good to punish those who are right with God, and it is wrong to beat men of honor for being faithful.
27 He who is careful in what he says has much learning, and he who has a quiet spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps quiet, is thought to be wise. When he closes his lips, he is thought of as a man of understanding.
18 He who stays away from others cares only about himself. He argues against all good wisdom.
2 A fool does not find joy in understanding, but only in letting his own mind be known.
3 When a sinful man comes, hate comes also, and where there is no honor, there is shame.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters. Wisdom comes like a flowing river making a pleasant noise.
5 It is not good to favor the sinful, or to keep what is fair from one who is right with God.
6 The lips of a fool bring fighting, and his mouth calls for a beating.
7 The mouth of a fool is what destroys him, and his lips are a trap to his soul.
8 The words of one who speaks about others in secret are like tempting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.
9 He who is lazy in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The man who does what is right runs into it and is safe.
11 The rich man’s money is his strong city, and he thinks it is like a high wall.
12 The heart of a man is proud before he is destroyed, but having no pride goes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it makes him foolish and ashamed.
14 The spirit of a man can help him through his sickness, but who can carry a broken spirit?
15 An understanding mind gets much learning, and the ear of the wise listens for much learning.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him in front of great men.
17 He who tells his story first makes people think he is right, until the other comes to test him.
18 Throwing an object to decide puts an end to arguing. It keeps powerful men from fighting.
19 A brother who has been hurt in his spirit is harder to be won than a strong city, and arguing is like the iron gates of a king’s house.
20 A man’s stomach will be filled with the fruit of his mouth. He will be filled with what his lips speak.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and gets favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man asks for loving-kindness, but the rich man is hard in his answers.
24 A man who has friends must be a friend, but there is a friend who stays nearer than a brother.
19 A poor man who walks with honor is better than a fool who is sinful in his speaking.
2 It is not good for a person to be without much learning, and he who hurries with his feet rushes into sin.
3 The foolish acts of man make his way bad, and his heart is angry toward the Lord.
4 Riches add many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will not get away.
6 Many will ask for the favor of a man who gives much, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him. How much more do his friends go far from him! He runs to them with words, but they are gone.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding will find good.
9 A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will be lost.
10 It is not right for a fool to live in great comfort, and for sure, for a servant to rule over rulers.
11 A man’s understanding makes him slow to anger. It is to his honor to forgive and forget a wrong done to him.
12 The king’s anger is like the noise of a lion, but his favor is like morning water upon the grass.
13 A foolish son destroys his father. The arguing of a wife is like water falling drop by drop all the time.
14 House and riches are handed down from fathers, but an understanding wife is from the Lord.
15 Being lazy makes one go into a deep sleep, and a lazy man will suffer from being hungry.
16 He who keeps God’s Word keeps his soul, but he who is not careful of his ways will die.
17 He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act.
18 Punish your son if he needs it while there is hope, and do not worry about his crying.
19 An angry man will suffer punishment. For if you save him from his trouble, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to words about what you should do, and take your punishment if you need it, so that you may be wise the rest of your days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s plan that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will sleep well, and will not be touched by sin.
24 The lazy man buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.
25 Hit a man who laughs at the truth, and the foolish may become wise. But speak strong words to one who has understanding, and he will get more learning.
26 He who hurts his father and puts his mother out of the house is a son who causes much shame.
27 My son, stop listening to teaching that will cause you to turn away from the words of much learning.
28 A man without worth who tells all he knows laughs at what is right and fair, and the mouth of the sinful spreads wrong-doing.
29 Ways of punishing are made ready for those who laugh at the truth, and beatings are for the back of fools.
20 Wine makes people act in a foolish way. Strong drink starts fights. Whoever is fooled by it is not wise.
2 The anger of a king is like the noise of a lion. He who makes him angry gives up his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep away from fighting, but any fool will argue.
4 The lazy man does not plow before winter. So he begs during gathering time and has nothing.
5 The plan in a man’s heart is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding gets it out.
6 Many men tell about their own loving-kindness and good ways but who can find a faithful man?
7 How happy are the sons of a man who is right with God and walks in honor!
8 A king who sits on his throne to judge finds out all sin with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, and I am pure from my sin?”
10 The Lord hates the use of tools that lie about how heavy or how long something is.
11 A young man makes himself known by his actions and proves if his ways are pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye were both made by the Lord.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor. Open your eyes, and you will be filled with food.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says the one who buys, but when he goes away, he talks much about his good buy.
15 There is gold and many stones of great worth, but the lips of much learning are worth more.
16 Take a man’s coat when he has given himself as trust for what a stranger owes. And hold him to his promise when he gives himself as trust for what the people from other lands owe.
17 Bread a man gets by lying is sweet to him, but later his mouth will be filled with sand.
18 Make plans by listening to what others have to say, and make war by listening to the leading of wise men.
19 He who goes about talking to hurt people makes secrets known. So do not be with those who talk about others.
20 If a son talks against his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in the time of darkness.
21 A large gift received at one time in a hurry will not bring good in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will punish wrong-doing.” Wait on the Lord, and He will take care of it.
23 Giving the wrong weight is hated by the Lord. And weighing something wrong is not good.
24 A man’s steps are decided by the Lord. How can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say without thinking, “It is holy,” and then later think more about what he has promised.
26 A wise king puts the sinful aside and crushes the grain over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord. It shows all the inside parts of his heart.
28 A king will stay in power as long as he is faithful and true. He can stay on his throne if he does what is right and good.
29 The honor of young men is their strength. And the honor of old men is their hair turning white.
30 Beatings that hurt clean away sin. And beatings make even the inside parts clean.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.