Proverbs 6-21
New King James Version
Dangerous Promises
6 My son, (A)if you become [a]surety for your friend,
If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
4 (B)Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the [c]fowler.
The Folly of Indolence
6 (C)Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no [d]captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her [e]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 (D)How long will you [f]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 (E)So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
The Wicked Man
12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
13 (F)He winks with his eyes,
He [g]shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart,
(G)He devises evil continually,
(H)He sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come (I)suddenly;
Suddenly he shall (J)be broken (K)without remedy.
16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [h]Him:
17 (L)A[i] proud look,
(M)A lying tongue,
(N)Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 (O)A heart that devises wicked plans,
(P)Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 (Q)A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who (R)sows discord among brethren.
Beware of Adultery
20 (S)My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 (T)Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 (U)When you roam, [j]they will lead you;
When you sleep, (V)they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 (W)For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24 (X)To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
25 (Y)Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
26 For (Z)by means of a harlot
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
(AA)And [k]an adulteress will (AB)prey upon his precious life.
27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.
30 People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31 Yet when he is found, (AC)he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman (AD)lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For (AE)jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will [l]accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
The Wiles of a Harlot
7 My son, keep my words,
And (AF)treasure my commands within you.
2 (AG)Keep my commands and live,
(AH)And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 (AI)Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 (AJ)That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the [m]youths,
A young man (AK)devoid[n] of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9 (AL)In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 (AM)She was loud and rebellious,
(AN)Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [o]impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of (AO)Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For [p]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money [q]with him,
And will come home [r]on the appointed day.”
21 [s]With (AP)her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
(AQ)With her flattering lips she [t]seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [u]as a fool to the correction of the [v]stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
(AR)As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [w]would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And (AS)all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 (AT)Her house is the way to [x]hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.
The Excellence of Wisdom
8 Does not (AU)wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the [y]high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you [z]simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of (AV)excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 (AW)For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 (AX)The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(AY)Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And (AZ)the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (BA)I have strength.
15 (BB)By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of [aa]the earth.
17 (BC)I love those who love me,
And (BD)those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 (BE)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I [ab]traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22 “The(BF) Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 (BG)I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 (BH)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the [ac]fields,
Or the [ad]primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 (BI)When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When (BJ)He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 (BK)Then I was beside Him as [ae]a master craftsman;
(BL)And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And (BM)my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For (BN)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 (BO)Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And (BP)obtains favor from the Lord;
36 But he who sins against me (BQ)wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”
The Way of Wisdom
9 Wisdom has (BR)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 (BS)She has slaughtered her meat,
(BT)She has mixed her wine,
She has also [af]furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever(BU) is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come,(BV) eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 (BW)Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
(BX)Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, (BY)and he will increase in learning.
10 “The(BZ) fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 (CA)For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 (CB)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
The Way of Folly
13 (CC)A foolish woman is [ag]clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat (CD)by the highest places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever(CE) is [ah]simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen(CF) water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that (CG)the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of [ai]hell.
Wise Sayings of Solomon
10 The proverbs of (CH)Solomon:
(CI)A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 (CJ)Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
(CK)But righteousness delivers from death.
3 (CL)The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,
But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4 (CM)He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But (CN)the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in (CO)summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is (CP)a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 (CQ)The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
9 (CS)He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But (CT)love covers all sins.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But (CU)a rod is for the back of him who [al]is devoid of understanding.
14 Wise people store up knowledge,
But (CV)the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The (CW)rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to (CX)life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction [am]goes astray.
19 (DA)In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But (DB)he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of [an]wisdom.
22 (DC)The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
23 (DD)To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 (DE)The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And (DF)the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes by, (DG)the wicked is no more,
But (DH)the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.
27 (DI)The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But (DJ)the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the (DK)expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But (DL)destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30 (DM)The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the [ao]earth.
31 (DN)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
The Folly of Wickedness
2 When pride comes, then comes (DP)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide (DQ)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 (DR)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But (DS)righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will [ar]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (DT)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 (DU)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8 (DV)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 (DW)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 (DX)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who [as]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
14 (EA)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He who is (EB)surety[at] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [au]being surety is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17 (EC)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 (ED)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to (EE)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own (EF)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 (EG)Though they join [av]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But (EH)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 [aw]discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked (EI)is wrath.
24 There is one who (EJ)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25 (EK)The generous soul will be made rich,
(EL)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse (EM)him who withholds grain,
But (EN)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
29 He who troubles his own house (ER)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (ES)servant to the wise of heart.
31 (EU)If the righteous will be [az]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
The House of the Righteous Shall Stand
12 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
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 (EV)root of the righteous cannot be moved.
4 (EW)An[ba] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is (EX)like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 (EY)The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
(EZ)But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 (FA)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,
(FB)But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9 (FC)Better is the one who is [bb]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.
10 (FD)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 (FE)He who [bc]tills his land will be satisfied with (FF)bread,
But he who follows [bd]frivolity (FG)is devoid of [be]understanding.
12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 (FH)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
(FI)But the righteous will come through trouble.
14 (FJ)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
(FK)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15 (FL)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 (FM)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.
17 (FN)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 (FO)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,
(FP)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 (FQ)No grave [bf]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 (FR)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
23 (FS)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 (FT)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
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.
Wisdom Loves Righteousness
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
(FW)But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 (FX)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
3 (FY)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 (FZ)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 (GA)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 (GB)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,
(GC)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By pride comes nothing but (GD)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 (GE)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But (GF)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who (GG)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 (GH)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from (GI)the snares of death.
15 Good understanding [bg]gains (GJ)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 (GK)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But (GL)a faithful ambassador brings health.
18 Poverty and shame will come to him who [bh]disdains correction,
But (GM)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 (GN)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But (GO)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 (GP)Much food is in the [bi]fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is [bj]waste.
25 (GR)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
The Ways of Life and Death
14 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
(GS)But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
(GT)But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the [bl]trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But (GW)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 (GX)knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 (GZ)The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And (HD)the end of mirth may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be (HE)filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied [bn]from (HF)above.
15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 (HG)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 (HH)The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But [bo]the rich has many (HI)friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
(HJ)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 [bp]idle chatter leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 (HL)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.
31 (HP)He who oppresses the poor reproaches (HQ)his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But (HR)the righteous has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But (HS)what is in the heart of fools is made known.
35 (HU)The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
15 A (HV)soft answer turns away wrath,
But (HW)a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
(HX)But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3 (HY)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A [bt]wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
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 [bv]disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.
8 (IB)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 (IC)follows righteousness.
11 (IF)Hell[bw] and [bx]Destruction are before the Lord;
So how much more (IG)the hearts of the sons of men.
12 (IH)A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.
13 (II)A merry heart makes a cheerful [by]countenance,
But (IJ)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,
(IK)But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16 (IL)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
17 (IM)Better is a dinner of [bz]herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.
18 (IN)A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
19 (IO)The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.
20 (IP)A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 (IQ)Folly is joy to him who is destitute of [ca]discernment,
(IR)But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22 (IS)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 (IT)a word spoken [cb]in due season, how good it is!
25 (IW)The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
But (IX)He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26 (IY)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
(IZ)But the words of the pure are pleasant.
27 (JA)He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (JB)studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones [cd]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 (JE)The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And (JF)before honor is humility.
Wisdom Is Better Than Gold
16 The (JG)preparations[ce] of the heart belong to man,
(JH)But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own (JI)eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
5 (JM)Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join [ch]forces, none will go unpunished.
6 (JN)In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And (JO)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 (JP)Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 (JS)Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His [ci]work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For (JT)a throne is established by righteousness.
13 (JU)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 (JV)appease it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a (JW)cloud of the latter rain.
16 (JX)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 [cj]a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the [ck]spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever (JY)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 (JZ)death.
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives (KA)him on.
27 [cl]An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning (KB)fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And (KC)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 [cm]purses his lips and brings about evil.
31 (KD)The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 (KE)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.
The Lord Tests Hearts
2 A wise servant will rule over (KG)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,
(KH)But the Lord tests the hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a [co]spiteful tongue.
5 (KI)He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
(KJ)He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 (KK)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.
10 (KN)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 (KO)a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever (KP)rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore (KQ)stop contention before a quarrel starts.
15 (KR)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 (KS)A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 (KT)A man devoid of [cp]understanding [cq]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes [cr]surety for his friend.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife,
And (KU)he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 He who has a [cs]deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has (KV)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.
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe [cu]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.
24 (KX)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 (KY)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 (KZ)He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 (LA)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower
18 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all [cv]wise judgment.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his (LB)own heart.
3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.
5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in (LE)judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7 (LF)A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his (LG)soul.
8 (LH)The words of a [cw]talebearer are like [cx]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [cy]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 (LI)tower;
The righteous run to it and are [cz]safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
12 (LJ)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 (LK)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 (LL)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 (LM)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 (LN)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 (LO)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 (LP)roughly.
24 A man who has friends [da]must himself be friendly,
(LQ)But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life
19 Better (LR)is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
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 (LS)Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A (LT)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 (LU)All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go (LV)far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they [db]abandon him.
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 (LX)for a servant to rule over princes.
11 (LY)The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
(LZ)And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
13 (MC)A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
(MD)And the contentions of a wife are a continual [dd]dripping.
17 (MJ)He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.
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 (ML)in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
(MM)Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is [dg]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.
23 (MN)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 (MO)A lazy man buries his hand in the [dh]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple (MP)will become wary;
(MQ)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is (MR)a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
(MT)And beatings for the backs of fools.
Wine Is a Mocker
20 Wine (MU)is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The [dj]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 (MV)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.
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 [dk]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9 (NA)Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 (NB)Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is (NC)known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
12 (ND)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.
13 (NE)Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is [dl]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 (NF)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (NG)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 (NH)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
19 (NK)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one (NL)who flatters with his lips.
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 (NS)A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And (NV)the splendor of old men is their gray head.
30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the [dp]inner depths of the heart.
The Lord Considers the Heart
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [dq]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
3 (NY)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
5 (OA)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will [dt]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of [du]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 (OC)a contentious woman.
10 (OD)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 (OE)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13 (OF)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 [dv]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 (OG)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 [dw]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 (OH)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
21 (OI)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
23 (OK)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 (OL)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous (OM)gives and does not spare.
27 (ON)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 [dy]establishes his way.
30 (OO)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (OP)deliverance is of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:1 guaranty or collateral
- Proverbs 6:1 Lit. struck
- Proverbs 6:5 One who catches birds in a trap or snare
- Proverbs 6:7 Lit. leader
- Proverbs 6:8 Lit. bread
- Proverbs 6:9 Lit. lie down
- Proverbs 6:13 gives signals, lit. scrapes
- Proverbs 6:16 Lit. His soul
- Proverbs 6:17 Lit. Haughty eyes
- Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it
- Proverbs 6:26 Wife of another, lit. a man’s wife
- Proverbs 6:35 Lit. lift up the face of any
- Proverbs 7:7 Lit. sons
- Proverbs 7:7 lacking
- Proverbs 7:13 shameless
- Proverbs 7:19 Lit. the man
- Proverbs 7:20 Lit. in his hand
- Proverbs 7:20 at the full moon
- Proverbs 7:21 By the greatness of her words
- Proverbs 7:21 compelled
- Proverbs 7:22 LXX, Syr., Tg. as a dog to bonds; Vg. as a lamb . . . to bonds
- Proverbs 7:22 shackles
- Proverbs 7:23 Lit. is for
- Proverbs 7:27 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 8:2 Lit. heights
- Proverbs 8:5 naive
- Proverbs 8:16 MT, Syr., Tg., Vg. righteousness; LXX, Bg., some mss. and editions earth
- Proverbs 8:20 walk about on
- Proverbs 8:26 outer places
- Proverbs 8:26 Lit. beginning of the dust
- Proverbs 8:30 A Jewish tradition one brought up
- Proverbs 9:2 arranged
- Proverbs 9:13 boisterous
- Proverbs 9:16 naive
- Proverbs 9:18 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 10:8 Lit. the foolish of lips
- Proverbs 10:8 be thrust down or ruined
- Proverbs 10:13 Lit. lacks heart
- Proverbs 10:17 leads
- Proverbs 10:21 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 10:30 land
- Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
- Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
- Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
- Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
- Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
- Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:22 taste
- Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
- Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
- Proverbs 11:31 rewarded
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. A wife of valor
- Proverbs 12:9 lightly esteemed
- Proverbs 12:11 works or cultivates
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. vain things
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 12:21 harm
- Proverbs 13:15 gives
- Proverbs 13:18 Lit. ignores
- Proverbs 13:23 uncultivated
- Proverbs 13:23 Lit. what is swept away
- Proverbs 13:24 early
- Proverbs 14:4 manger or feed trough
- Proverbs 14:9 Lit. guilt
- Proverbs 14:14 Lit. from above himself
- Proverbs 14:20 Lit. many are the lovers of the rich
- Proverbs 14:23 Lit. talk of the lips
- Proverbs 14:25 saves lives
- Proverbs 14:29 Lit. short of spirit
- Proverbs 14:34 shame or disgrace
- Proverbs 15:4 Lit. healing
- Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps
- Proverbs 15:7 spread
- Proverbs 15:11 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 15:11 Heb. Abaddon
- Proverbs 15:13 face
- Proverbs 15:17 Or vegetables
- Proverbs 15:21 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 15:23 Lit. in its time
- Proverbs 15:24 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 15:30 Lit. fat
- Proverbs 16:1 plans
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit. Roll
- Proverbs 16:4 Lit. evil
- Proverbs 16:5 Lit. hand to hand
- Proverbs 16:11 concern
- Proverbs 16:18 stumbling
- Proverbs 16:19 plunder
- Proverbs 16:27 Lit. A man of Belial
- Proverbs 16:30 Lit. compresses
- Proverbs 17:1 Or sacrificial meals
- Proverbs 17:4 Lit. destructive
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit. strikes the hands
- Proverbs 17:18 guaranty or collateral
- Proverbs 17:20 crooked
- Proverbs 17:22 Or makes medicine even better
- Proverbs 17:23 Under cover, lit. from the bosom
- Proverbs 18:1 sound wisdom
- Proverbs 18:8 gossip or slanderer
- Proverbs 18:8 A Jewish tradition wounds
- Proverbs 18:8 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 18:10 secure, lit. set on high
- Proverbs 18:24 So with Gr. mss., Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT may come to ruin
- Proverbs 19:7 Lit. are not
- Proverbs 19:8 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 19:13 Irritation
- Proverbs 19:16 Is reckless, lit. despises
- Proverbs 19:18 Lit. to put him to death; a Jewish tradition on his crying
- Proverbs 19:22 Lit. lovingkindness
- Proverbs 19:24 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
- Proverbs 19:28 Lit. witness of Belial, worthless witness
- Proverbs 20:2 Lit. fear or terror, produced by the king’s wrath
- Proverbs 20:6 Lit. mercy
- Proverbs 20:14 Lit. evil, evil
- Proverbs 20:22 repay
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 20:28 mercy
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 21:1 channels
- Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
- Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
- Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
- Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
- Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
- Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
- Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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