Proverbs 11-19

English Standard Version

11 ^(A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(B)but a just weight is his delight.
²^(C)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with ^(D)the humble is wisdom.
³^(E)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    ^(F)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴^(G)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    ^(H)but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵The righteousness of the blameless ^(I)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶^(J)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(K)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷When the wicked dies, his ^(L)hope will perish,
    and ^(M)the expectation of wealth^[a] perishes too.
⁸^(N)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰^(O)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but ^(P)by the mouth of the wicked ^(Q)it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever ^(R)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever ^(S)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is ^(T)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(U)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵^(V)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶^(W)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(X)violent men get riches.
¹⁷^(Y)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(Z)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(AA)will live,
    but ^(AB)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of ^(AC)crooked heart are ^(AD)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(AE)blameless ways are ^(AF)his delight.
²¹^(AG)Be assured, ^(AH)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(AI)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like ^(AJ)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(AK)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴^(AL)One gives ^(AM)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵^(AN)Whoever brings blessing ^(AO)will be enriched,
    and ^(AP)one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶^(AQ)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(AR)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(AS)sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[b]
    but evil comes to ^(AT)him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever ^(AU)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(AV)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever ^(AW)troubles his own household will ^(AX)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰The fruit of the righteous is ^(AY)a tree of life,
    and whoever ^(AZ)captures souls is wise.
³¹If ^(BA)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who ^(BB)hates reproof is ^(BC)stupid.
²A good man ^(BD)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of ^(BE)the righteous will never be moved.
⁴^(BF)An excellent wife is ^(BG)the crown of her husband,
    but she who ^(BH)brings shame is like ^(BI)rottenness in his bones.
⁵^(BJ)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
⁶The words of the wicked ^(BK)lie in wait for blood,
    but ^(BL)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
⁷^(BM)The wicked are ^(BN)overthrown and are no more,
    ^(BO)but the house of the righteous will stand.
⁸A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is ^(BP)despised.
⁹Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
¹⁰^(BQ)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹^(BR)Whoever works his land ^(BS)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(BT)but he who follows ^(BU)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹²Whoever is wicked covets ^(BV)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³An evil man is ensnared ^(BW)by the transgression of his lips,^[c]
    ^(BX)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴From the fruit of his mouth ^(BY)a man is satisfied with good,
    ^(BZ)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
¹⁵^(CA)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
¹⁶^(CB)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
¹⁷^(CC)Whoever speaks^[d] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but ^(CD)a false witness utters deceit.
¹⁸^(CE)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings ^(CF)healing.
¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(CG)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰Deceit is in the heart of ^(CH)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
²¹^(CI)No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
²²^(CJ)Lying lips are ^(CK)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(CL)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
²³^(CM)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    ^(CN)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
²⁴^(CO)The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be ^(CP)put to forced labor.
²⁵^(CQ)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.
²⁶One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,^[e]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
²⁷^(CR)Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
    but the diligent man will get precious wealth.^[f]
²⁸^(CS)In the path of righteousness is life,
    and in its pathway there is no death.
13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but ^(CT)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
²From the fruit of his mouth a man ^(CU)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous ^(CV)is for violence.
³^(CW)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    ^(CX)he who opens wide his lips ^(CY)comes to ruin.
⁴^(CZ)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent ^(DA)is richly supplied.
⁵The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame^[g] and disgrace.
⁶^(DB)Righteousness guards him whose ^(DC)way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
⁷^(DD)One pretends to be rich,^[h] yet has nothing;
    ^(DE)another pretends to be poor,^[i] yet has great wealth.
⁸The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
    but a poor man ^(DF)hears no threat.
⁹^(DG)The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but ^(DH)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
¹⁰^(DI)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.
¹¹^(DJ)Wealth gained hastily^[j] will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    ^(DK)but a desire fulfilled is ^(DL)a tree of life.
¹³Whoever ^(DM)despises ^(DN)the word^[k] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment^[l] will be ^(DO)rewarded.
¹⁴The teaching of the wise is ^(DP)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(DQ)turn away from the snares of death.
¹⁵^(DR)Good sense wins ^(DS)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.^[m]
¹⁶^(DT)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
    ^(DU)but a fool flaunts his folly.
¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but ^(DV)a faithful envoy brings healing.
¹⁸Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^(DW)ignores instruction,
    ^(DX)but whoever ^(DY)heeds reproof is honored.
¹⁹^(DZ)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
²⁰Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
²¹^(EA)Disaster^[n] pursues sinners,
    ^(EB)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
²²^(EC)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but ^(ED)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through ^(EE)injustice.
²⁴^(EF)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.^[o]
²⁵^(EG)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
14 ^(EH)The wisest of women ^(EI)builds her house,
    but folly with her own hands ^(EJ)tears it down.
²Whoever ^(EK)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is ^(EL)devious in his ways despises him.
³By the mouth of a fool comes ^(EM)a rod for his back,^[p]
    ^(EN)but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
⁵^(EO)A faithful witness does not lie,
    but ^(EP)a false witness breathes out lies.
⁶^(EQ)A scoffer seeks wisdom ^(ER)in vain,
    but ^(ES)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
⁷Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
⁹^(ET)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.^[q]
¹⁰The heart knows its own ^(EU)bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
¹¹^(EV)The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
¹²^(EW)There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but ^(EX)its end is the way to death.^[r]
¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and ^(EY)the end of joy may be ^(EZ)grief.
¹⁴The backslider in heart will be ^(FA)filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and ^(FB)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
¹⁵^(FC)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
¹⁶^(FD)One who is wise is cautious^[s] and ^(FE)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
¹⁷A man of ^(FF)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
¹⁸The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹^(FG)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰^(FH)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    ^(FI)but the rich has many friends.
²¹Whoever ^(FJ)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but ^(FK)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
²²Do they not go astray who ^(FL)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet^[t] ^(FM)steadfast love and faithfulness.
²³In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk ^(FN)tends only to poverty.
²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.
²⁵A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who ^(FO)breathes out lies is deceitful.
²⁶In the fear of the Lord one has ^(FP)strong confidence,
    and ^(FQ)his children will have ^(FR)a refuge.
²⁷The fear of the Lord is ^(FS)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(FT)turn away from the snares of death.
²⁸In ^(FU)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹Whoever is ^(FV)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰A tranquil^[u] heart gives ^(FW)life to the flesh,
    but ^(FX)envy^[v] makes ^(FY)the bones rot.
³¹Whoever oppresses a poor man ^(FZ)insults his ^(GA)Maker,
    ^(GB)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
³²^(GC)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but ^(GD)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
³³Wisdom ^(GE)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[w]
³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
³⁵A servant who deals wisely has ^(GF)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
15 ^(GG)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but ^(GH)a harsh word stirs up anger.
²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but ^(GI)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³^(GJ)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴^(GK)A gentle^[x] tongue is ^(GL)a tree of life,
    but ^(GM)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵^(GN)A fool ^(GO)despises his father's instruction,
    but ^(GP)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷^(GQ)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    ^(GR)not so the hearts of fools.^[y]
⁸^(GS)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(GT)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him ^(GU)who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰There is ^(GV)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    ^(GW)whoever hates reproof will die.
¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more ^(GX)the hearts of the children of man!
¹²^(GY)A scoffer ^(GZ)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
¹³^(HA)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by ^(HB)sorrow of heart the spirit is ^(HC)crushed.
¹⁴^(HD)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but ^(HE)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶^(HF)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
¹⁷^(HG)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than ^(HH)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
¹⁸^(HI)A hot-tempered man ^(HJ)stirs up strife,
    but he who is ^(HK)slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹The way of ^(HL)a sluggard is like a hedge of ^(HM)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is ^(HN)a level highway.
²⁰^(HO)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹^(HP)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding ^(HQ)walks straight ahead.
²²^(HR)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and ^(HS)a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴The path of life leads upward ^(HT)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵The Lord tears down the house of ^(HU)the proud
    but ^(HV)maintains ^(HW)the widow's boundaries.
²⁶^(HX)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(HY)gracious words are pure.
²⁷Whoever is ^(HZ)greedy for unjust gain ^(IA)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates ^(IB)bribes will live.
²⁸The heart of the righteous ^(IC)ponders how to answer,
    but ^(ID)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹The Lord is ^(IE)far from the wicked,
    but he ^(IF)hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰^(IG)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and ^(IH)good news refreshes^[z] the bones.
³¹^(II)The ear that listens to ^(IJ)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
³²Whoever ^(IK)ignores instruction ^(IL)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof ^(IM)gains intelligence.
³³^(IN)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and ^(IO)humility comes before honor.

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but ^(IP)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
²^(IQ)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(IR)weighs the spirit.^[aa]
³^(IS)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
⁴^(IT)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(IU)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(IV)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(IW)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶By ^(IX)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(IY)the fear of the Lord one ^(IZ)turns away from evil.
⁷When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(JA)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸^(JB)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
⁹^(JC)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(JD)the Lord establishes his steps.
¹⁰^(JE)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹^(JF)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(JG)the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³^(JH)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴^(JI)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(JJ)appease it.
¹⁵^(JK)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(JL)favor is like ^(JM)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶^(JN)How much better to get wisdom than ^(JO)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(JP)silver.
¹⁷The highway of the upright ^(JQ)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
¹⁸^(JR)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹^(JS)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(JT)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word^[ab] ^(JU)will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(JV)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(JW)increases persuasiveness.
²²Good sense is ^(JX)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
²³^(JY)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴^(JZ)Gracious words are like ^(KA)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(KB)health to the body.
²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[ac]
²⁶A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(KC)mouth urges him on.
²⁷^(KD)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[ad] is like ^(KE)a scorching fire.
²⁸^(KF)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(KG)a whisperer ^(KH)separates close friends.
²⁹A man of violence ^(KI)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰Whoever winks his eyes plans^[ae] ^(KJ)dishonest things;
    he who ^(KK)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹^(KL)Gray hair is ^(KM)a crown of glory;
    it ^(KN)is gained in a righteous life.
³²^(KO)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
³³^(KP)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(KQ)from the Lord.
17 ^(KR)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting^[af] with strife.
²A servant who deals wisely will rule over ^(KS)a son who acts shamefully
    and ^(KT)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
³^(KU)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(KV)and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵Whoever mocks the poor ^(KW)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(KX)glad at calamity will not go ^(KY)unpunished.
⁶^(KZ)Grandchildren are ^(LA)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷Fine speech is not ^(LB)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(LC)false speech to a prince.
⁸^(LD)A bribe is like a magic^[ag] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹Whoever ^(LE)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(LF)separates close friends.
¹⁰A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and ^(LG)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹²Let a man meet ^(LH)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    ^(LI)rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³If anyone ^(LJ)returns evil for good,
    ^(LK)evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(LL)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵He who ^(LM)justifies the wicked and he who ^(LN)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(LO)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
¹⁷^(LP)A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who ^(LQ)makes his door high seeks destruction.
²⁰^(LR)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹He who ^(LS)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
²²^(LT)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit ^(LU)dries up the bones.
²³The wicked accepts ^(LV)a bribe in secret^[ah]
    to ^(LW)pervert the ways of justice.
²⁴^(LX)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
²⁵^(LY)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    ^(LZ)and bitterness to ^(MA)her who bore him.
²⁶^(MB)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷Whoever ^(MC)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸Even a fool ^(MD)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever ^(ME)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
²A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only ^(MF)in expressing his opinion.
³When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴The words of a man's mouth are ^(MG)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵It is not good to ^(MH)be partial to^[ai] the wicked
    or to ^(MI)deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites ^(MJ)a beating.
⁷^(MK)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
⁸^(ML)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into ^(MM)the inner parts of the body.
⁹Whoever is slack in his work
    is a ^(MN)brother to him who destroys.
¹⁰^(MO)The name of the Lord is ^(MP)a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and ^(MQ)is safe.
¹¹^(MR)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
¹²^(MS)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(MT)humility comes before honor.
¹³If one gives an answer ^(MU)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but ^(MV)a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶A man's ^(MW)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
¹⁷The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
¹⁸^(MX)The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
²⁰^(MY)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
²¹^(MZ)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²²He who finds ^(NA)a wife finds ^(NB)a good thing
    and ^(NC)obtains favor ^(ND)from the Lord.
²³The poor use entreaties,
    but ^(NE)the rich answer roughly.
²⁴A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but ^(NF)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19 ^(NG)Better is a poor person who ^(NH)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
²Desire^[aj] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever ^(NI)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³When a man's folly ^(NJ)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart ^(NK)rages against the Lord.
⁴^(NL)Wealth brings many new friends,
    ^(NM)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
⁵^(NN)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(NO)breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[ak]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ^(NP)gifts.
⁷^(NQ)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    ^(NR)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[al]
⁸^(NS)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will ^(NT)discover good.
⁹^(NU)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(NV)breathes out lies will perish.
¹⁰^(NW)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for ^(NX)a slave to rule over princes.
¹¹^(NY)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
¹²A king's wrath is like ^(NZ)the growling of a lion,
    but his ^(OA)favor is like ^(OB)dew on the grass.
¹³^(OC)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and ^(OD)a wife's quarreling is ^(OE)a continual dripping of rain.

Footnotes

Proverbs 11:7 Or of his strength, or of iniquity
Proverbs 11:27 Or acceptance
Proverbs 12:13 Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare
Proverbs 12:17 Hebrew breathes out
Proverbs 12:26 Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully
Proverbs 12:27 Or but diligence is precious wealth
Proverbs 13:5 Or stench
Proverbs 13:7 Or One makes himself rich
Proverbs 13:7 Or another makes himself poor
Proverbs 13:11 Or by fraud
Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment
Proverbs 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut
Proverbs 13:21 Or Evil
Proverbs 13:24 Or who loves him disciplines him early
Proverbs 14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride
Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance
Proverbs 14:12 Hebrew ways of death
Proverbs 14:16 Or fears [the Lord]
Proverbs 14:22 Or show
Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan
Proverbs 17:1 Hebrew sacrifices
Proverbs 17:8 Or precious
Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
Proverbs 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of
Proverbs 19:2 Or A soul
Proverbs 19:6 Or of a noble
Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain