Add parallel Print Page Options

12 Haughtiness goes before destruction;
    humility precedes honor.

Read full chapter

12 Pride comes before a disaster,
    but humility comes before respect.

Read full chapter

14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,
    but who can bear a crushed spirit?

Read full chapter

14 The human spirit sustains a sick person,
    but who can bear a broken spirit?

Read full chapter

People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
    and then are angry at the Lord.

Read full chapter

People’s own folly corrupts their way,
    but their hearts rage against the Lord.

Read full chapter

20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
    so you will be wise the rest of your life.

Read full chapter

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    so you might grow wise in the future.

Read full chapter

Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
    a person with understanding will draw it out.

Read full chapter

Advice comes from the deep waters of the heart;
    those with understanding can draw it out.

Read full chapter

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,[a]
    exposing every hidden motive.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 20:27 Or The human spirit is the Lord’s light.

27 The breath of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
    searching all the inmost parts.

Read full chapter

21 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
    he guides it wherever he pleases.

People may be right in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their heart.

Read full chapter

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he directs it wherever he wants.
Everyone’s path is straight in their own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.

Read full chapter

11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
    will have the king as a friend.

Read full chapter

11 Those who love a pure heart—
    their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.

Read full chapter

12 Commit yourself to instruction;
    listen carefully to words of knowledge.

Read full chapter

12 Bring your mind to instruction,
    your ear to knowledgeable sayings.

Read full chapter

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
    save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
    For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
    He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Read full chapter

11 Rescue those being taken off to death;
    and from those staggering to the slaughter, don’t hold back.
12 If you say, “Look, we didn’t know about it,”
    the one who weighs hearts—doesn’t he understand?
    The one who protects your life—he knows.
    He makes people pay for their actions.

Read full chapter

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
    don’t be happy when they stumble.
18 For the Lord will be displeased with you
    and will turn his anger away from them.

Read full chapter

17 When your enemies fall, don’t rejoice.
    When they stumble, don’t let your heart be glad,
18 or the Lord will see it and be displeased,
    and he will turn his anger from them.

Read full chapter

19 Don’t fret because of evildoers;
    don’t envy the wicked.
20 For evil people have no future;
    the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Read full chapter

19 Don’t get fighting mad at evil people;
    don’t be envious of the wicked.
20 Indeed, there is no future for the evil;
    the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Read full chapter