Proverbs 26-31
New American Standard Bible 1995
Similitudes, Instructions
26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
2 Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not [b]alight.
3 A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
4 (G)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 (H)Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs which [c]are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which [e]falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who (K)repeats [g]his folly.
12 Do you see a man (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The (N)sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is [h]in the open square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the (O)sluggard on his bed.
15 The (P)sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 The sluggard is (Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can [i]give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and [j]meddles with (R)strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman who throws
(S)Firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man who (T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(U)Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (V)whisperer, (W)contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (X)contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The (Y)words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [k]innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen (Z)vessel overlaid with silver (AA)dross
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up (AC)deceit in his [l]heart.
25 When [m]he (AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be (AF)revealed before the assembly.
27 He who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates [n]those it crushes,
And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.
Warnings and Instructions
27 (AI)Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you (AJ)do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let (AK)another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
But (AL)who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is (AM)open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the (AN)wounds of a friend,
But [o]deceitful are the (AO)kisses of an enemy.
7 A sated [p]man [q]loathes honey,
But to a famished [r]man any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a (AP)bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man who (AQ)wanders from his [s]home.
9 (AR)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a [t]man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own (AS)friend or (AT)your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
11 (AU)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may (AV)reply to him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The [u]naive proceed and pay the penalty.
13 (AW)Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for an [v]adulterous woman hold him in pledge.
14 (AX)He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.
15 A (AY)constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;
16 He who would [w]restrain her [x]restrains the wind,
And [y]grasps oil with his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
18 He who tends the (AZ)fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who (BA)cares for his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.
20 [z](BB)Sheol and [aa]Abaddon are (BC)never satisfied,
Nor are the (BD)eyes of man ever satisfied.
21 The (BE)crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And each (BF)is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Though you (BG)pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 (BH)Know well the [ab]condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever,
Nor does a (BI)crown endure to all generations.
25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are (BJ)gathered in,
26 The lambs will be for your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field,
27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household,
And sustenance for your maidens.
Warnings and Instructions
28 The wicked (BK)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are [ac]bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land (BL)many are its princes,
But (BM)by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3 A (BN)poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain [ad]which leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law (BO)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law (BP)strive with them.
5 Evil men (BQ)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord (BR)understand all things.
6 (BS)Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is [ae]crooked though he be rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of (BT)gluttons humiliates his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by (BU)interest and usury
Gathers it (BV)for him who is gracious to the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his (BW)prayer is an abomination.
10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will (BX)himself fall into his own pit,
But the (BY)blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is (BZ)wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding [af]sees through him.
12 When the (CA)righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But (CB)when the wicked rise, men [ag]hide themselves.
13 He who (CC)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who (CD)confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the man who (CE)fears always,
But he who (CF)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a (CG)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a (CH)wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A (CI)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 A man who is (CJ)laden with the guilt of human blood
Will [ah]be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is [ai](CK)crooked will fall all at once.
19 (CL)He who tills his land will (CM)have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
20 A (CN)faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who (CO)makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To [aj](CP)show partiality is not good,
(CQ)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22 A man with an (CR)evil eye (CS)hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.
23 He who (CT)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who (CU)flatters with the tongue.
24 He who (CV)robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the (CW)companion of a man who destroys.
25 An [ak]arrogant man (CX)stirs up strife,
But he who (CY)trusts in the Lord (CZ)will [al]prosper.
26 He who (DA)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
27 He who (DB)gives to the poor will never want,
But he who [am]shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Warnings and Instructions
29 A man who hardens his neck after (DC)much reproof
Will (DD)suddenly be broken [an]beyond remedy.
2 When the (DE)righteous [ao]increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
3 A man who (DF)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who (DG)keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The (DH)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who (DI)flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
6 By transgression an evil man is (DJ)ensnared,
But the righteous (DK)sings and rejoices.
7 The (DL)righteous [ap]is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such [aq]concern.
8 Scorners (DM)set a city aflame,
But (DN)wise men turn away anger.
9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
[ar]The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 Men of (DO)bloodshed hate the blameless,
But the upright [as]are concerned for his life.
11 A (DP)fool [at]always loses his temper,
But a (DQ)wise man holds it back.
12 If a (DR)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The (DS)poor man and the oppressor [au]have this in common:
The Lord gives (DT)light to the eyes of both.
14 If a (DU)king judges the poor with truth,
His (DV)throne will be established forever.
15 The (DW)rod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child [av]who gets his own way (DX)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked [aw]increase, transgression increases;
But the (DY)righteous will see their fall.
17 (DZ)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also [ax](EA)delight your soul.
18 Where there is (EB)no [ay]vision, the people (EC)are unrestrained,
But (ED)happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a man who is (EE)hasty in his words?
There is (EF)more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be a son.
22 An (EG)angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
23 A man’s (EH)pride will bring him low,
But a (EI)humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He (EJ)hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The (EK)fear of man [az]brings a snare,
But he who (EL)trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
26 (EM)Many seek the ruler’s [ba]favor,
But (EN)justice for man comes from the Lord.
27 An (EO)unjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is (EP)upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.
The Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the [bb]oracle.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am more (EQ)stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man.
3 Neither have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the (ER)knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has (ES)ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the (ET)wind in His fists?
Who has (EU)wrapped the waters in [bc]His garment?
Who has (EV)established all the ends of the earth?
What is His (EW)name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!
5 Every (EX)word of God is tested;
He is a (EY)shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 (EZ)Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
7 Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep deception and [bd]lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the (FA)food that is my portion,
9 That I not be (FB)full and deny (FC)You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be (FD)in want and steal,
And (FE)profane the name of my God.
10 Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will (FF)curse you and you will be found guilty.
11 There is a [be]kind of man who (FG)curses his father
And does not bless his mother.
12 There is a [bf]kind who is (FH)pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13 There is a [bg]kind—oh how (FI)lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14 There is a [bh]kind of man whose (FJ)teeth are like swords
And his (FK)jaw teeth like knives,
To (FL)devour the afflicted from the earth
And the needy from among men.
15 The leech has two daughters,
“Give,” “Give.”
There are three things that will not be satisfied,
Four that will not say, “Enough”:
16 [bi](FM)Sheol, and the (FN)barren womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that (FO)mocks a father
And [bj](FP)scorns a mother,
The (FQ)ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young (FR)eagles will eat it.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an (FS)eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.
20 This is the way of an (FT)adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot bear up:
22 Under a (FU)slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
24 Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25 The (FV)ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The [bk](FW)shephanim are not mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in (FX)ranks;
28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things which are stately in their march,
Even four which are stately when they walk:
30 The lion which is (FY)mighty among beasts
And does not [bl](FZ)retreat before any,
31 The [bm]strutting rooster, the male goat also,
And a king when his army is with him.
32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself
Or if you have plotted evil, (GA)put your hand on your mouth.
33 For the [bn]churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose brings forth blood;
So the [bo]churning of (GB)anger produces strife.
The Words of Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel, the [bp]oracle which his mother taught him:
2 What, O my son?
And what, O (GC)son of my womb?
And what, O son of my (GD)vows?
3 (GE)Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which (GF)destroys kings.
4 It is not for (GG)kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (GH)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (GI)pervert the [bq]rights of all the [br]afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is (GJ)perishing,
And wine to him [bs](GK)whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8 (GL)Open your mouth for the mute,
For the [bt]rights of all the [bu]unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, (GM)judge righteously,
And [bv]defend the (GN)rights of the afflicted and needy.
Description of a Worthy Woman
10 An (GO)excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far (GP)above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her [bw]hands [bx]in delight.
14 She is like (GQ)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She (GR)rises also while it is still night
And (GS)gives food to her household
And [by]portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [bz]her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She (GT)girds [ca]herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her [cb]hands grasp the spindle.
20 She [cc](GU)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are (GV)clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes (GW)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is (GX)fine linen and (GY)purple.
23 Her husband is known (GZ)in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (HA)linen garments and sells them,
And [cd]supplies belts to the [ce]tradesmen.
25 Strength and (HB)dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [cf]future.
26 She (HC)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [cg]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the (HD)bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [ch](HE)fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [ci]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
- Proverbs 26:2 Lit come
- Proverbs 26:7 Lit hang down from
- Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
- Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
- Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But he who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
- Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his
- Proverbs 26:13 Lit within
- Proverbs 26:16 Lit return discreetly
- Proverbs 26:17 Lit infuriates himself
- Proverbs 26:22 Lit chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 26:24 Lit inward part
- Proverbs 26:25 Lit his voice is gracious
- Proverbs 26:28 Lit its crushed ones
- Proverbs 27:6 Or excessive
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit tramples on
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
- Proverbs 27:8 Lit place
- Proverbs 27:9 Lit soul’s
- Proverbs 27:12 Lit simple
- Proverbs 27:13 Lit strange
- Proverbs 27:16 Lit hide(s)
- Proverbs 27:16 Lit hide(s)
- Proverbs 27:16 Lit encounters
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e. The nether world
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e. the place of destruction
- Proverbs 27:23 Lit face
- Proverbs 28:1 Lit confident
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread
- Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways
- Proverbs 28:11 Lit examines him
- Proverbs 28:12 Lit will be searched for
- Proverbs 28:17 Lit flee to the pit
- Proverbs 28:18 Lit perverse of two ways
- Proverbs 28:21 Lit regard the face
- Proverbs 28:25 Lit broad soul
- Proverbs 28:25 Lit be made fat
- Proverbs 28:27 Lit hides
- Proverbs 29:1 Lit and there is no remedy
- Proverbs 29:2 Or become great
- Proverbs 29:7 Lit knows the cause
- Proverbs 29:7 Lit knowledge
- Proverbs 29:9 Lit He
- Proverbs 29:10 Lit seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit
- Proverbs 29:13 Lit meet together
- Proverbs 29:15 Lit left to himself
- Proverbs 29:16 Or become great
- Proverbs 29:17 Lit give delight to
- Proverbs 29:18 Or revelation
- Proverbs 29:25 Lit gives
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit face
- Proverbs 30:1 Or burden
- Proverbs 30:4 Lit the
- Proverbs 30:8 Lit words of falsehood
- Proverbs 30:11 Or generation
- Proverbs 30:12 Or generation
- Proverbs 30:13 Or generation
- Proverbs 30:14 Or generation
- Proverbs 30:16 I.e. The nether world
- Proverbs 30:17 Lit despises to obey
- Proverbs 30:26 Small, shy, furry animals (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and the region round the Dead Sea; KJV coney, orig NASB badgers
- Proverbs 30:30 Lit turn back
- Proverbs 30:31 Lit girt in the loins
- Proverbs 30:33 Lit pressing
- Proverbs 30:33 Lit pressing
- Proverbs 31:1 Or burden
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit judgment
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:6 Lit bitter of soul
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit judgment
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted
- Proverbs 31:13 Lit palms
- Proverbs 31:13 Or willingly
- Proverbs 31:15 Or prescribed tasks
- Proverbs 31:16 Lit the fruit of her palms
- Proverbs 31:17 Lit her loins
- Proverbs 31:19 Lit palms
- Proverbs 31:20 Lit spreads out her palm
- Proverbs 31:24 Lit gives
- Proverbs 31:24 Lit Canaanite
- Proverbs 31:25 Lit latter days
- Proverbs 31:26 Or law
- Proverbs 31:30 Or reverences
- Proverbs 31:31 Lit fruit
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
