Proverbs 11-28

New King James Version

² When pride comes, then comes ^(B)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright will guide ^(C)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
^4 (D)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But ^(E)righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless will ^[c]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own ^(F)wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

⁷ When a wicked man dies, his expectation will ^(G)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
^8 (H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
⁹ The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
^10 (I)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright the city is ^(J)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹² He who ^[d]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

^13 (K)A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit ^(L)conceals a matter.

^14 (M)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

¹⁵ He who is ^(N)surety^[e] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates ^[f]being surety is secure.

¹⁶ A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
^17 (O)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
¹⁸ The wicked man does deceptive work,
But ^(P)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
¹⁹ As righteousness leads to ^(Q)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own ^(R)death.
²⁰ Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
^21 (S)Though they join ^[g]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But ^(T)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

²² As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks ^[h]discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked ^(U)is wrath.

²⁴ There is one who ^(V)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
^25 (W)The generous soul will be made rich,
^(X)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
²⁶ The people will curse ^(Y)him who withholds grain,
But ^(Z)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

²⁷ He who earnestly seeks good ^[i]finds favor,
^(AA)But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

^28 (AB)He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But ^(AC)the righteous will flourish like foliage.

²⁹ He who troubles his own house ^(AD)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be ^(AE)servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And ^(AF)he who ^[j]wins souls is wise.

^31 (AG)If the righteous will be ^[k]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

² A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

³ A man is not established by wickedness,
But the ^(AH)root of the righteous cannot be moved.

^4 (AI)An^[l] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is ^(AJ)like rottenness in his bones.

⁵ The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
^6 (AK)The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
^(AL)But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

^7 (AM)The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

⁸ A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
^(AN)But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

^9 (AO)Better is the one who is ^[m]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

^10 (AP)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

^11 (AQ)He who ^[n]tills his land will be satisfied with ^(AR)bread,
But he who follows ^[o]frivolity ^(AS)is devoid of ^[p]understanding.

¹² The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
^13 (AT)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
^(AU)But the righteous will come through trouble.
^14 (AV)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
^(AW)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

^15 (AX)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
^16 (AY)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

^17 (AZ)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
^18 (BA)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
¹⁹ The truthful lip shall be established forever,
^(BB)But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
^21 (BC)No grave ^[q]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
^22 (BD)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

^23 (BE)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

^24 (BF)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

^25 (BG)Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But ^(BH)a good word makes it glad.

²⁶ The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

^2 (BJ)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
^3 (BK)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

^4 (BL)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

⁵ A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
^6 (BM)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

^7 (BN)There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

⁸ The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.

⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices,
^(BO)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

¹⁰ By pride comes nothing but ^(BP)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

^11 (BQ)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But ^(BR)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

¹³ He who ^(BS)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
^14 (BT)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from ^(BU)the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding ^[r]gains ^(BV)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
^16 (BW)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But ^(BX)a faithful ambassador brings health.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame will come to him who ^[s]disdains correction,
But ^(BY)he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

¹⁹ A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

^21 (BZ)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But ^(CA)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

^23 (CB)Much food is in the ^[t]fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is ^[u]waste.

^24 (CC)He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him ^[v]promptly.

^25 (CD)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

² He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
^(CE)But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

³ In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
^(CF)But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

⁴ Where no oxen are, the ^[w]trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

⁵ A ^(CG)faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter ^(CH)lies.

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But ^(CI)knowledge is easy to him who understands.
⁷ Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of ^(CJ)knowledge.
⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

^9 (CK)Fools mock at ^[x]sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

^11 (CL)The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

^12 (CM)There is a way that seems right to a man,
But ^(CN)its end is the way of ^(CO)death.

¹³ Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And ^(CP)the end of mirth may be grief.

¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be ^(CQ)filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied ^[y]from ^(CR)above.

¹⁵ The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
^16 (CS)A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
¹⁷ A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹ The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

^20 (CT)The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But ^[z]the rich has many ^(CU)friends.
²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins;
^(CV)But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

²² Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

²³ In all labor there is profit,
But ^[aa]idle chatter leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.

²⁵ A true witness ^[ab]delivers ^(CW)souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

²⁶ In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
^27 (CX)The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

²⁸ In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

^29 (CY)He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is ^[ac]impulsive exalts folly.

³⁰ A sound heart is life to the body,
But ^(CZ)envy is ^(DA)rottenness to the bones.

^31 (DB)He who oppresses the poor reproaches ^(DC)his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

³² The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But ^(DD)the righteous has a refuge in his death.

³³ Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But ^(DE)what is in the heart of fools is made known.

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a ^(DF)nation,
But sin is a ^[ad]reproach to any people.

^35 (DG)The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

^3 (DK)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

⁴ A ^[ae]wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

^5 (DL)A fool despises his father’s instruction,
^(DM)But he who ^[af]receives correction is prudent.

⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

⁷ The lips of the wise ^[ag]disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

^8 (DN)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves him who ^(DO)follows righteousness.

^10 (DP)Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And ^(DQ)he who hates correction will die.

^11 (DR)Hell^[ah] and ^[ai]Destruction are before the Lord;
So how much more ^(DS)the hearts of the sons of men.

^12 (DT)A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

^13 (DU)A merry heart makes a cheerful ^[aj]countenance,
But ^(DV)by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

¹⁴ The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
^(DW)But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

^16 (DX)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
^17 (DY)Better is a dinner of ^[ak]herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

^18 (DZ)A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

^19 (EA)The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

^20 (EB)A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

^21 (EC)Folly is joy to him who is destitute of ^[al]discernment,
^(ED)But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

^22 (EE)Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

²³ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And ^(EF)a word spoken ^[am]in due season, how good it is!

^24 (EG)The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may ^(EH)turn away from ^[an]hell below.

^25 (EI)The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
But ^(EJ)He will establish the boundary of the widow.

^26 (EK)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
^(EL)But the words of the pure are pleasant.

^27 (EM)He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(EN)studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

^29 (EO)The Lord is far from the wicked,
But ^(EP)He hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones ^[ao]healthy.

³¹ The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
³² He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
^33 (EQ)The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And ^(ER)before honor is humility.

² All the ways of a man are pure in his own ^(EU)eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.

^3 (EV)Commit^[aq] your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.

⁴ The ^(EW)Lord has made all for Himself,
^(EX)Yes, even the wicked for the day of ^[ar]doom.

^5 (EY)Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join ^[as]forces, none will go unpunished.

^6 (EZ)In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And ^(FA)by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

^8 (FB)Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.

^9 (FC)A man’s heart plans his way,
^(FD)But the Lord directs his steps.

¹⁰ Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
^11 (FE)Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His ^[at]work.
¹² It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For ^(FF)a throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (FG)Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴ As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will ^(FH)appease it.
¹⁵ In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a ^(FI)cloud of the latter rain.

^16 (FJ)How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before ^[au]a fall.
¹⁹ Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the ^[av]spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever ^(FK)trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

²¹ The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

²² Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.

²³ The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of ^(FL)death.

²⁶ The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives ^(FM)him on.

^27 [aw]An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning ^(FN)fire.
²⁸ A perverse man sows strife,
And ^(FO)a whisperer separates the best of friends.
²⁹ A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He ^[ax]purses his lips and brings about evil.

^31 (FP)The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.

^32 (FQ)He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.

² A wise servant will rule over ^(FS)a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

³ The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
^(FT)But the Lord tests the hearts.

⁴ An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a ^[az]spiteful tongue.

^5 (FU)He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
^(FV)He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

^6 (FW)Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.

⁷ Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.

⁸ A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

^9 (FX)He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But ^(FY)he who repeats a matter separates friends.

^10 (FZ)Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹² Let a man meet ^(GA)a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoever ^(GB)rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore ^(GC)stop contention before a quarrel starts.

^15 (GD)He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶ Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?

^17 (GE)A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

^18 (GF)A man devoid of ^[ba]understanding ^[bb]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes ^[bc]surety for his friend.

¹⁹ He who loves transgression loves strife,
And ^(GG)he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

²⁰ He who has a ^[bd]deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has ^(GH)a perverse tongue falls into evil.

²¹ He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.

²² A ^(GI)merry heart ^[be]does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

²³ A wicked man accepts a bribe ^[bf]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.

^24 (GJ)Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A ^(GK)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.

²⁶ Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

^27 (GL)He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
^28 (GM)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

² A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his ^(GN)own heart.

³ When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.

^4 (GO)The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
^(GP)The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

⁵ It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in ^(GQ)judgment.

⁶ A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
^7 (GR)A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his ^(GS)soul.
^8 (GT)The words of a ^[bh]talebearer are like ^[bi]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the ^[bj]inmost body.

⁹ He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong ^(GU)tower;
The righteous run to it and are ^[bk]safe.
¹¹ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.

^12 (GV)Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.

¹³ He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.

¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?

¹⁵ The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

^16 (GW)A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

¹⁷ The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

¹⁸ Casting ^(GX)lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.

¹⁹ A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

^20 (GY)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

^21 (GZ)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

^22 (HA)He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

²³ The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers ^(HB)roughly.

²⁴ A man who has friends ^[bl]must himself be friendly,
^(HC)But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

² Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

³ The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.

^4 (HE)Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

⁵ A ^(HF)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

⁶ Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
^7 (HG)All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go ^(HH)far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they ^[bm]abandon him.

⁸ He who gets ^[bn]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding ^(HI)will find good.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

¹⁰ Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less ^(HJ)for a servant to rule over princes.

^11 (HK)The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
^(HL)And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

^12 (HM)The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is ^(HN)like dew on the grass.

^13 (HO)A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
^(HP)And the contentions of a wife are a continual ^[bo]dripping.

^14 (HQ)Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But ^(HR)a prudent wife is from the Lord.

^15 (HS)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will ^(HT)suffer hunger.

^16 (HU)He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who ^[bp]is careless of his ways will die.

^17 (HV)He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.

^18 (HW)Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart ^[bq]on his destruction.

¹⁹ A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise ^(HX)in your latter days.

²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart,
^(HY)Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

²² What is desired in a man is ^[br]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

^23 (HZ)The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

^24 (IA)A lazy man buries his hand in the ^[bs]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple ^(IB)will become wary;
^(IC)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

²⁶ He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is ^(ID)a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

²⁷ Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A ^[bt]disreputable witness scorns justice,
And ^(IE)the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
^(IF)And beatings for the backs of fools.

² The ^[bu]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

^3 (IH)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

^4 (II)The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
^(IJ)He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Most men will proclaim each his own ^[bv]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

^7 (IK)The righteous man walks in his integrity;
^(IL)His children are blessed after him.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

^9 (IM)Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

^10 (IN)Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.

¹¹ Even a child is ^(IO)known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

^12 (IP)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.

^13 (IQ)Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ “It is ^[bw]good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But ^(IR)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

^16 (IS)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

^17 (IT)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

^18 (IU)Plans are established by counsel;
^(IV)By wise counsel wage war.

^19 (IW)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one ^(IX)who flatters with his lips.

^20 (IY)Whoever curses his father or his mother,
^(IZ)His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

^21 (JA)An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
^(JB)Will not be blessed at the end.

^22 (JC)Do not say, “I will ^[bx]recompense evil”;
^(JD)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

²³ Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.

²⁴ A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?

²⁵ It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.

^26 (JE)A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.

^27 (JF)The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the ^[by]inner depths of his heart.

^28 (JG)Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by ^[bz]lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
And ^(JH)the splendor of old men is their gray head.

³⁰ Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the ^[ca]inner depths of the heart.

^2 (JI)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
^(JJ)But the Lord weighs the hearts.

^3 (JK)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

^4 (JL)A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the ^[cc]plowing of the wicked are sin.

^5 (JM)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

^6 (JN)Getting treasures by a lying tongue
^[cd]Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will ^[ce]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.

⁸ The way of ^[cf]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.

⁹ Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with ^(JO)a contentious woman.

^10 (JP)The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the ^(JQ)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹² The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

^13 (JR)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe ^[cg]behind the back, strong wrath.

¹⁵ It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the ^(JS)dead.

¹⁷ He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to dwell ^[ch]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.

^20 (JT)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.

^21 (JU)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A ^(JV)wise man ^[ci]scales the city of the mighty,
And brings down the trusted stronghold.

^23 (JW)Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.

²⁴ A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.

²⁵ The ^(JX)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
²⁶ He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous ^(JY)gives and does not spare.

^27 (JZ)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

²⁸ A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

²⁹ A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he ^[cj]establishes his way.

^30 (KA)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But ^(KB)deliverance is of the Lord.

² The ^(KD)rich and the poor have this in common,
The ^(KE)Lord is the maker of them all.

³ A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are ^(KF)punished.

⁴ By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.

^6 (KG)Train up a child in the way he should go,
^[ck]And when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷ The ^(KH)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸ He who sows iniquity will reap ^(KI)sorrow,^[cl]
And the rod of his anger will fail.

^9 (KJ)He who has a ^[cm]generous eye will be ^(KK)blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

^10 (KL)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

^11 (KM)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

^13 (KN)The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”

^14 (KO)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
^(KP)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
^(KQ)The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

²² Do not rob the ^(KT)poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
^23 (KU)For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

²⁴ Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a ^(KV)furious man do not go,
²⁵ Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.

^26 (KW)Do not be one of those who ^[co]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is ^[cp]surety for debts;
²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

^28 (KX)Do not remove the ancient ^[cq]landmark
Which your fathers have set.

²⁹ Do you see a man who ^[cr]excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before ^[cs]unknown men.

^4 (KY)Do not overwork to be rich;
^(KZ)Because of your own understanding, cease!
^5 [ct]Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

⁶ Do not eat the bread of ^(LA)a^[cu] miser,
Nor desire his delicacies;
⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Eat and drink!” ^(LB)he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.
⁸ The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up,
And waste your pleasant words.

^9 (LC)Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

¹⁰ Do not remove the ancient ^[cv]landmark,
Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;
^11 (LD)For their Redeemer is mighty;
He will plead their cause against you.

¹² Apply your heart to instruction,
And your ears to words of knowledge.

^13 (LE)Do not withhold correction from a child,
For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
¹⁴ You shall beat him with a rod,
And deliver his soul from ^[cw]hell.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;
¹⁶ Yes, my ^[cx]inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.

^17 (LF)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But ^(LG)be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
^18 (LH)For surely there is a ^[cy]hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁹ Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.
^20 (LI)Do not mix with winebibbers,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
²¹ For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

^22 (LJ)Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

^23 (LK)Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

^24 (LL)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
²⁵ Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart,
And let your eyes observe my ways.
^27 (LM)For a harlot is a deep pit,
And a seductress is a narrow well.
^28 (LN)She also lies in wait as for a victim,
And increases the unfaithful among men.

^29 (LO)Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who ^(LP)has redness of eyes?
^30 (LQ)Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of ^(LR)mixed wine.
³¹ Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it ^[cz]swirls around smoothly;
³² At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
³³ Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
³⁴ Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the ^[da]midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
³⁵ “They^(LS) have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall ^(LT)I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

³ Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
⁴ By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

^5 (LV)A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
^6 (LW)For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

^7 (LX)Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

⁸ He who ^(LY)plots to do evil
Will be called a ^[db]schemer.
⁹ The devising of foolishness is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

¹⁰ If you ^(LZ)faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.

^11 (MA)Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
¹² If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
Does not ^(MB)He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man ^(MC)according to his deeds?

¹³ My son, ^(MD)eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
^14 (ME)So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a ^[dc]prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
^16 (MF)For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
^(MG)But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

^17 (MH)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
¹⁸ Lest the Lord see it, and ^[dd]it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.

^19 (MI)Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
²⁰ For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹ My son, ^(MJ)fear the Lord and the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
²² For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

^(MK)It is not good to ^[de]show partiality in judgment.
^24 (ML)He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
²⁵ But those who rebuke the wicked will have ^(MM)delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

²⁶ He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

^27 (MN)Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house.

^28 (MO)Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
^[df]For would you deceive with your lips?
^29 (MP)Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”

³⁰ I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
³¹ And there it was, ^(MQ)all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
³² When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
^33 (MR)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
^34 (MS)So shall your poverty come like ^[dg]a prowler,
And your need like ^[dh]an armed man.

^2 (MU)It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

³ As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

^4 (MV)Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in ^(MW)righteousness.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of the great;
^7 (MX)For it is better that he say to you,
“Come up here,”
Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

^8 (MY)Do not go hastily to ^[di]court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?
^9 (MZ)Debate your case with your neighbor,
And do not disclose the secret to another;
¹⁰ Lest he who hears it expose your shame,
And ^[dj]your reputation be ruined.

¹¹ A word fitly ^(NA)spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
¹² Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

^13 (NB)Like the cold of snow in time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

^14 (NC)Whoever falsely boasts of giving
Is like ^(ND)clouds and wind without rain.

^15 (NE)By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

¹⁶ Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.

¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

^18 (NF)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who ^(NG)sings songs to a heavy heart.

^21 (NH)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
²² For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
^(NI)And the Lord will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
And ^(NJ)a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

^24 (NK)It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵ As cold water to a weary soul,
So is ^(NL)good news from a far country.

²⁶ A righteous man who falters before the wicked
Is like a murky spring and a ^[dk]polluted well.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey;
So ^(NM)to seek one’s own glory is not glory.

^28 (NN)Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.

² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So ^(NP)a curse without cause shall not alight.

^3 (NQ)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
^5 (NR)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
⁷ Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
^10 [dl]The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
^11 (NS)As a dog returns to his own vomit,
^(NT)So a fool repeats his folly.
^12 (NU)Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the ^[dm]streets!”
¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
¹⁵ The ^(NV)lazy man buries his hand in the ^[dn]bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
¹⁶ The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

¹⁷ He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, ^(NW)“I was only joking!”

²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no ^[do]talebearer, strife ceases.
^21 (NX)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
²² The words of a ^[dp]talebearer are like ^[dq]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the ^[dr]inmost body.

²³ Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

²⁴ He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
^25 (NY)When ^[ds]he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

^27 (NZ)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works ^(OA)ruin.

^2 (OC)Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

³ A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.

⁴ Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent,
But ^(OD)who is able to stand before jealousy?

^5 (OE)Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.

⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are ^(OF)deceitful.

⁷ A satisfied soul ^[dt]loathes the honeycomb,
But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ Like a bird that wanders from its nest
Is a man who wanders from his place.

⁹ Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by ^[du]hearty counsel.

¹⁰ Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
^(OG)Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

¹¹ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
^(OH)That I may answer him who reproaches me.

¹² A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself;
The simple pass on and are ^(OI)punished.

¹³ Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

¹⁴ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
It will be counted a curse to him.

¹⁵ A ^(OJ)continual dripping on a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike;
¹⁶ Whoever ^[dv]restrains her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

^18 (OK)Whoever ^[dw]keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his master will be honored.

¹⁹ As in water face reflects face,
So a man’s heart reveals the man.

^20 (OL)Hell^[dx] and ^[dy]Destruction are never full;
So ^(OM)the eyes of man are never satisfied.

^21 (ON)The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him.

^22 (OO)Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

²³ Be diligent to know the state of your ^(OP)flocks,
And attend to your herds;
²⁴ For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
^25 (OQ)When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
²⁶ The lambs will provide your clothing,
And the goats the price of a field;
²⁷ You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.

² Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.

^3 (OS)A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain ^[dz]which leaves no food.

^4 (OT)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
^(OU)But such as keep the law contend with them.

^5 (OV)Evil men do not understand justice,
But ^(OW)those who seek the Lord understand all.

⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷ Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸ One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

⁹ One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
^(OX)Even his prayer is an abomination.

^10 (OY)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
^(OZ)But the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

¹² When the righteous rejoice, there is great ^(PA)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men ^[ea]hide themselves.

^13 (PB)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

^15 (PC)Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
^(PD)Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a great ^(PE)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

^17 (PF)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.

¹⁸ Whoever walks blamelessly will be ^[eb]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

^19 (PG)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
^(PH)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

^21 (PI)To ^[ec]show partiality is not good,
^(PJ)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²² A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that ^(PK)poverty will come upon him.

^23 (PL)He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same ^(PM)is companion to a destroyer.

^25 (PN)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
^(PO)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

²⁶ He who ^(PP)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

^27 (PQ)He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked arise, ^(PR)men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.