Proverbs 2:11-22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 prudence will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 It will save you from the way of evil,
from those who speak perversely,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,(A)
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,(B)
15 those whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.(C)
16 You will be saved from the loose woman,[a]
from the adulteress[b] with her smooth words,(D)
17 who forsakes the partner of her youth
and forgets her sacred covenant,
18 for her way[c] leads down to death
and her paths to the shades;(E)
19 those who go to her never come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.
20 Therefore walk in the way of the good,
and keep to the paths of the just.
21 For the upright will abide in the land,
and the innocent will remain in it,(F)
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.(G)
Proverbs 2:11-22
Evangelical Heritage Version
11 Foresight will stand guard over you.
Understanding will protect you.
12 It will save you from the evil way,
from the man who speaks perverse things,
13 from those who abandon upright paths
in order to walk in the ways of darkness.
14 It will save you from those who enjoy doing evil,
from those who celebrate the twisted ways of evil,
15 from those whose paths are crooked,
and from those whose ways are devious.
Wisdom Protects You From the Adulterous Woman
16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,[a]
from the unfaithful woman[b] with her seductive words,
17 who abandons the husband of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God.
18 So she sinks down to death, which becomes her house.[c]
Her way of life leads down to the spirits of the dead.
19 All who enter her house never return.
They never reach the paths of life.
Admonition to Live Righteously
20 This is how to walk in the way of good people,
how to stay on the paths of the righteous.
21 Yes, the upright will live in the land,
and people with integrity will remain in it,
22 but wicked people will be cut off from the land,
and treacherous people will be torn out of it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 2:16 Literally from the strange woman, that is, one who is married to another man
- Proverbs 2:16 Literally from the foreign woman, that is, one who is married to another man
- Proverbs 2:18 The line is difficult and the translation is uncertain.
Proverbs 3:31-32
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
31 Do not envy the violent,
and do not choose any of their ways,(A)
32 for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.(B)
Proverbs 3:31-32
Evangelical Heritage Version
31 Do not envy a violent person.
Do not choose any of his ways,
32 because a crooked person is an abomination[a] to the Lord,
but God’s friendly guidance leads[b] the upright.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:32 Or is disgusting or is repulsive
- Proverbs 3:32 Or intimate counsel guides
Proverbs 6:12-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 A scoundrel and a villain
goes around with crooked speech,(A)
13 winking the eyes, shuffling the feet,
pointing the fingers,(B)
14 with perverted mind devising evil,
continually sowing discord;(C)
15 on such a one calamity will descend suddenly,
in a moment, damage beyond repair.(D)
Proverbs 6:12-15
Evangelical Heritage Version
Dishonesty Leads to Disaster
12 A worthless, wicked scoundrel,
who goes around with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks with his eye, signals with his foot,
and gestures with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with a deceitful heart—
he always spreads conflict.
15 Therefore his disaster will come upon him suddenly.
All at once he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.
Proverbs 10:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(A)
Proverbs 10:6
Evangelical Heritage Version
Wise Words and Wise Ways
6 Blessings crown the head of a righteous person,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:6 Or the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
Proverbs 10:11-13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(A)
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.(B)
13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(C)
Proverbs 10:11-13
Evangelical Heritage Version
11 The mouth of a righteous person is a fountain of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.[a]
12 Hatred stirs up a quarrel,
but love covers all sins.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of a discerning person,
but a rod is appropriate for the back of one who lacks sense.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:11 Or the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
Proverbs 10:18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 Lying lips conceal hatred,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
Proverbs 10:18
Evangelical Heritage Version
18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads gossip is a fool.
Proverbs 11:13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(A)
Proverbs 11:13
Evangelical Heritage Version
13 A gossip goes around betraying secrets,
but a trustworthy spirit keeps a matter confidential.
Proverbs 12:15-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to advice.(A)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
but the prudent ignore an insult.(B)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(C)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(D)
Proverbs 12:15-18
Evangelical Heritage Version
15 The way of a stubborn fool seems correct to him,
but whoever listens to advice is wise.
16 A stubborn fool immediately lets his annoyance be known,
but a sensible person overlooks an insult.
17 Whoever breathes the truth proclaims righteousness,
but a lying witness is deceitful.
18 Some people wield reckless words like the thrusts of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 13:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 The clever do all things intelligently,
but the fool displays folly.(A)
Proverbs 13:16
Evangelical Heritage Version
16 Every sensible person acts with knowledge,
but a fool displays stupidity.
Proverbs 16:27-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.(A)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.(B)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
and lead them in a way that is not good.(C)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[a] perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
Footnotes
- 16.30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan
Proverbs 16:27-30
Evangelical Heritage Version
27 A worthless scoundrel constantly plots evil,
and from his lips comes a scorching fire.
28 A perverse[a] man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates intimate friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor.
He leads him on a way that is not good.
30 A person who squints his eyes is plotting something perverse.
One who purses his lips has completed some evil plot.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:28 Or twisted
Proverbs 17:4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
Proverbs 17:4
Evangelical Heritage Version
4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.
A liar feeds upon[a] a destructive tongue.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:4 Hebrew variant listens to
Proverbs 17:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(A)
Proverbs 17:9
Evangelical Heritage Version
9 A person who covers an offense pursues love,
but one who repeats the matter separates friends.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.