Add parallel Print Page Options

General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)
Give instruction[a] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
    teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9.9 Heb lacks instruction

One who (A)corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And one who rebukes a wicked person gets [a]insults for himself.
(B)Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(C)Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;
Teach a righteous person and he will (D)increase his insight.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit a blemish

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(A)
Do not rebuke mockers(B) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.(C)
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(D)

Read full chapter

10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    but one who rebukes boldly makes peace.[a](A)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 10.10 Gk: Heb but one with foolish lips will come to ruin

10 He (A)who winks the eye causes trouble,
And [a](B)a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 The (C)mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But (D)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Lit the foolish of lips

10 Whoever winks maliciously(A) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(B)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(C)

Read full chapter

13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(A)
14 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Read full chapter

13 On (A)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (B)a rod is for the back of him who has no [a]sense.
14 Wise people (C)store up knowledge,
But with (D)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(A)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(B)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(D)

Read full chapter

13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(A)
14 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Read full chapter

13 On (A)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (B)a rod is for the back of him who has no [a]sense.
14 Wise people (C)store up knowledge,
But with (D)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(A)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(B)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(D)

Read full chapter

13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(A)

Read full chapter

13 One (A)who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is [a]trustworthy (B)conceals a matter.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:13 Lit faithful of spirit

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

Read full chapter

13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.(A)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.(B)

Read full chapter

13 [a]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (A)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be (B)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [b]words,
And the (C)deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare
  2. Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth

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

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

Read full chapter

16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(A)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(B)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(C)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.(D)

Read full chapter

16 A (A)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (B)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (C)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a (D)lying tongue is only for a moment.

Read full chapter

16 Fools(A) show their annoyance at once,(B)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(C)

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

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

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

Read full chapter

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.(A)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[a] broadcasts folly.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools

22 (A)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (B)prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

Read full chapter

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(A)
    but he delights(B) in people who are trustworthy.(C)

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

Read full chapter

25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
    but a good word cheers it up.(A)

Read full chapter

25 (A)Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a (B)good word makes it glad.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter