11 (A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    (B)but a just weight is his delight.
(C)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with (D)the humble is wisdom.
(E)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    (F)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
(G)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    (H)but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless (I)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
(J)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous (K)are taken captive by their lust.
When the wicked dies, his (L)hope will perish,
    and (M)the expectation of wealth[a] perishes too.
(N)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
With 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.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but (P)by the mouth of the wicked (Q)it is overthrown.
12 Whoever (R)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever (S)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where 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.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who (Z)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness (AA)will live,
    but (AB)he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those 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.
22 Like (AJ)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The 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.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[b]
    but evil comes to (AT)him who searches for it.
28 Whoever (AU)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will (AV)flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever (AW)troubles his own household will (AX)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (AY)a tree of life,
    and whoever (AZ)captures souls is wise.
31 If (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.
A good man (BD)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of (BE)the righteous will never be moved.
(BF)An excellent wife is (BG)the crown of her husband,
    but she who (BH)brings shame is like (BI)rottenness in his bones.
(BJ)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
The words of the wicked (BK)lie in wait for blood,
    but (BL)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
(BM)The wicked are (BN)overthrown and are no more,
    (BO)but the house of the righteous will stand.
A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is (BP)despised.
Better 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.
12 Whoever is wicked covets (BV)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared (BW)by the transgression of his lips,[c]
    (BX)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From 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.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but (CG)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit 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.
26 One 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.
From the fruit of his mouth a man (CU)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous (CV)is for violence.
(CW)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    (CX)he who opens wide his lips (CY)comes to ruin.
(CZ)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent (DA)is richly supplied.
The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame[g] and disgrace.
(DB)Righteousness guards him whose (DC)way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
(DD)One pretends to be rich,[h] yet has nothing;
    (DE)another pretends to be poor,[i] yet has great wealth.
The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
    but a poor man (DF)hears no threat.
(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.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    (DK)but a desire fulfilled is (DL)a tree of life.
13 Whoever (DM)despises (DN)the word[k] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment[l] will be (DO)rewarded.
14 The 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.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but (DV)a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty 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.
20 Whoever 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.
23 The 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.
Whoever (EK)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is (EL)devious in his ways despises him.
By the mouth of a fool comes (EM)a rod for his back,[p]
    (EN)but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
(EO)A faithful witness does not lie,
    but (EP)a false witness breathes out lies.
(EQ)A scoffer seeks wisdom (ER)in vain,
    but (ES)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
(ET)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.[q]
10 The 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]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and (EY)the end of joy may be (EZ)grief.
14 The 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.
17 A man of (FF)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The 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.
21 Whoever (FJ)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but (FK)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (FL)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet[t] (FM)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk (FN)tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who (FO)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (FP)strong confidence,
    and (FQ)his children will have (FR)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (FS)a fountain of life,
    that one may (FT)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (FU)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (FV)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[u] heart gives (FW)life to the flesh,
    but (FX)envy[v] makes (FY)the bones rot.
31 Whoever 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.
33 Wisdom (GE)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[w]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A 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.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but (GI)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
(GJ)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
(GK)A gentle[x] tongue is (GL)a tree of life,
    but (GM)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
(GN)A fool (GO)despises his father's instruction,
    but (GP)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
(GQ)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (GR)not so the hearts of fools.[y]
(GS)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but (GT)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him (GU)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (GV)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    (GW)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol 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.
15 All 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.
19 The 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.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and (HS)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward (HT)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The 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.
27 Whoever is (HZ)greedy for unjust gain (IA)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates (IB)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (IC)ponders how to answer,
    but (ID)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The 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.
32 Whoever (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.
(IQ)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord (IR)weighs the spirit.[aa]
(IS)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
(IT)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even (IU)the wicked for the day of trouble.
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (IV)an abomination to the Lord;
    (IW)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
By (IX)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by (IY)the fear of the Lord one (IZ)turns away from evil.
When a man's ways please the Lord,
    (JA)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
(JB)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
(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.
12 It 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.
17 The 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.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[ab] (JU)will discover good,
    and blessed is he (JV)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech (JW)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good 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.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.[ac]
26 A 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.
29 A man of violence (KI)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever 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.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over (KS)a son who acts shamefully
    and (KT)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
(KU)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    (KV)and the Lord tests hearts.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Whoever mocks the poor (KW)insults his Maker;
    he who is (KX)glad at calamity will not go (KY)unpunished.
(KZ)Grandchildren are (LA)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
Fine speech is not (LB)becoming to a fool;
    still less is (LC)false speech to a prince.
(LD)A bribe is like a magic[ag] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
Whoever (LE)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter (LF)separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and (LG)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet (LH)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    (LI)rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone (LJ)returns evil for good,
    (LK)evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so (LL)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who (LM)justifies the wicked and he who (LN)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why 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.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever 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.
21 He 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.
23 The 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.
27 Whoever (MC)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even 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.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (MF)in expressing his opinion.
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
The words of a man's mouth are (MG)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
It is not good to (MH)be partial to[ai] the wicked
    or to (MI)deprive the righteous of justice.
A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (MJ)a beating.
(MK)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
(ML)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into (MM)the inner parts of the body.
Whoever 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.
13 If one gives an answer (MU)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but (MV)a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's (MW)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
17 The 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.
19 A 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.
22 He who finds (NA)a wife finds (NB)a good thing
    and (NC)obtains favor (ND)from the Lord.
23 The poor use entreaties,
    but (NE)the rich answer roughly.
24 A 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.
Desire[aj] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever (NI)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
When a man's folly (NJ)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart (NK)rages against the Lord.
(NL)Wealth brings many new friends,
    (NM)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
(NN)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who (NO)breathes out lies will not escape.
Many seek the favor of a generous man,[ak]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives (NP)gifts.
(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]
(NS)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will (NT)discover good.
(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.
12 A 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

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

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(C)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(D)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)

Wealth(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(H)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(L)
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.(M)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(P)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(Q)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(R)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(S)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(W)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(Y)

15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(AE)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
    but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(AI)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(AK)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(AQ) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(AR)

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(AS)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(AT)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(AU)

A wife of noble character(AV) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(AW)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(AX)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(AY)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(AZ)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(BA) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(BB)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(BC)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(BD)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(BE)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(BF)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(BG)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(BH)
    but the wise listen to advice.(BI)

16 Fools(BJ) show their annoyance at once,(BK)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(BL)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(BM)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(BN)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(BO)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(BP)

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(BQ)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(BR)
    but he delights(BS) in people who are trustworthy.(BT)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(BU)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(BV)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(BW)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(BX)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(BY)

27 The lazy do not roast[b] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(BZ)
    along that path is immortality.

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(CA)

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(CB)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips(CC) preserve their lives,(CD)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(CE)

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(CF)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false,(CG)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(CH)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(CI)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(CJ)

A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(CK)

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(CL)

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(CM)

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(CN)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(CO)

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(CP)
    but whoever respects(CQ) a command is rewarded.(CR)

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(CS)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(CT)

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[c]

16 All who are prudent act with[d] knowledge,
    but fools expose(CU) their folly.(CV)

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,(CW)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.(CX)

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(CY)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(CZ)

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(DA)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(DB)

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(DC)
    but the righteous(DD) are rewarded with good things.(DE)

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(DF)

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

24 Whoever spares the rod(DG) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(DH) them.(DI)

25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(DJ)

14 The wise woman builds her house,(DK)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(DL)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(DM)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(DN) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(DO)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(DP)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(DQ)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(DR)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(DS)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(DT)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(DU)
    but in the end it leads to death.(DV)

13 Even in laughter(DW) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(DX)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(DY)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(DZ)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(EA)
    but a fool(EB) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(EC) does foolish things,(ED)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(EE)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(EF)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(EG)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(EH)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(EI)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(EJ)
    But those who plan what is good find[e] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(EK)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(EL)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(EM)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(EN)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(EO)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(EP)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(EQ)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(ER)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(ES)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(ET)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(EU)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(EV)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(EW)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(EX)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(EY)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[f]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(EZ)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(FA)

15 A gentle answer(FB) turns away wrath,(FC)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(FD)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(FE)

The eyes(FF) of the Lord are everywhere,(FG)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(FH)

The soothing tongue(FI) is a tree of life,(FJ)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(FK)

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(FL)

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(FM)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(FN)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(FO)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

The Lord detests the sacrifice(FP) of the wicked,(FQ)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(FR)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(FS)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(FT)

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(FU)

11 Death and Destruction[g] lie open before the Lord(FV)
    how much more do human hearts!(FW)

12 Mockers resent correction,(FX)
    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(FY)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(FZ)

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(GA)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(GB)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(GC)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(GD)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(GE)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(GF)

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(GG)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(GH)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,(GI)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(GJ)
    but with many advisers(GK) they succeed.(GL)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(GM)
    and how good is a timely word!(GN)

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(GO)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(GP)

26 The Lord detests the thoughts(GQ) of the wicked,(GR)
    but gracious words are pure(GS) in his sight.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(GT)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(GU)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(GV)

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(GW)

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(GX)

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(GY)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(GZ)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(HA)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(HB)
    and humility comes before honor.(HC)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(HD)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(HE)
    but motives are weighed(HF) by the Lord.(HG)

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.(HH)

The Lord works out everything to its proper end(HI)
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.(HJ)

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(HK)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(HL)

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(HM) evil is avoided.(HN)

When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace(HO) with them.(HP)

Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain(HQ) with injustice.(HR)

In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.(HS)

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.(HT)

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.(HU)

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(HV)

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.(HW)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(HX)
    but the wise will appease it.(HY)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(HZ)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(IA)

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight(IB) rather than silver!(IC)

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(ID)

18 Pride(IE) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit(IF) before a fall.(IG)

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[h](IH)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(II)

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[i](IJ)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(IK)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(IL)
    and their lips promote instruction.[j](IM)

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(IN)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(IO)

25 There is a way that appears to be right,(IP)
    but in the end it leads to death.(IQ)

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel(IR) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(IS)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(IT)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(IU)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(IV)

30 Whoever winks(IW) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(IX)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast(IY) into the lap,
    but its every decision(IZ) is from the Lord.(JA)

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.(JB)

A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(JC)
    but the Lord tests the heart.(JD)

A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Whoever mocks the poor(JE) shows contempt for their Maker;(JF)
    whoever gloats over disaster(JG) will not go unpunished.(JH)

Children’s children(JI) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(JJ)

A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.(JK)

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(JL)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(JM)

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.(JN)

13 Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil(JO) for good.(JP)

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(JQ)

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent(JR)
    the Lord detests them both.(JS)

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(JT)

17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(JU)

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.(JV)

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(JW)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed(JX) spirit dries up the bones.(JY)

23 The wicked accept bribes(JZ) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(KA)

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(KB) wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(KC)

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(KD)
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(KE)
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(KF)

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(KG)

18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(KH)

When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
    and with shame comes reproach.

The words of the mouth are deep waters,(KI)
    but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked(KJ)
    and so deprive the innocent of justice.(KK)

The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(KL)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(KM) to their very lives.(KN)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(KO)

One who is slack in his work
    is brother to one who destroys.(KP)

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;(KQ)
    the righteous run to it and are safe.(KR)

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(KS)
    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.(KT)

13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.(KU)

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?(KV)

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(KW)
    for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift(KX) opens the way
    and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
    until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

18 Casting the lot settles disputes(KY)
    and keeps strong opponents apart.

19 A brother wronged(KZ) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
    disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
    with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.(LA)

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,(LB)
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.(LC)

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(LD)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(LE)

23 The poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(LF)

19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(LG)

Desire without knowledge is not good—
    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!(LH)

A person’s own folly(LI) leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.(LJ)

Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(LK)

A false witness(LL) will not go unpunished,(LM)
    and whoever pours out lies will not go free.(LN)

Many curry favor with a ruler,(LO)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.(LP)

The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!(LQ)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.[k](LR)

The one who gets wisdom loves life;
    the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.(LS)

A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and whoever pours out lies will perish.(LT)

10 It is not fitting for a fool(LU) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(LV)

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;(LW)
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,(LX)
    but his favor is like dew(LY) on the grass.(LZ)

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,(MA)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(MB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
  2. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  4. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
  5. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  6. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
  7. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon
  8. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
  9. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  10. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
  11. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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

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

12 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

13 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

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

15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

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

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

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

23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

16 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

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

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

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

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

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

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

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

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

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

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

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

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

28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

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

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

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

10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.

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

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

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

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.

24 Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

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

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

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

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

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

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

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

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

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

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

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.

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

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

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

23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

24 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21 My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

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

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

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

20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

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

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

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

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.

10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

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

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

27 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

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

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.