Proverbs 7:1-20:21
New American Standard Bible
The Lures of the Prostitute
7 My son, (A)keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
2 (B)Keep my commandments and live,
And my [a]teaching (C)as the [b]apple of your eye.
3 (D)Bind them on your fingers;
(E)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your intimate friend,
5 So that they may keep you from an [c]adulteress,
From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 For (F)at the window of my house
I looked out (G)through my lattice,
7 And I saw among the (H)naive,
And discerned among the [d]youths
A young man (I)lacking [e]sense,
8 Passing through the street near (J)her corner;
And he walks along the way to (K)her house,
9 In the (L)twilight, in the [f]evening,
In the [g]middle of the night and the darkness.
10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
(M)Dressed as a prostitute and cunning of heart.
11 She is (N)boisterous and rebellious,
Her (O)feet do not remain at home;
12 She is now in the streets, now (P)in the public squares,
And (Q)lurks by every corner.
13 So she seizes him and kisses him,
[h]And with a (R)brazen face she says to him:
14 “[i]I was due to offer (S)peace offerings;
Today I have (T)paid my vows.
15 Therefore I have come out to meet you,
To seek your presence diligently, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with (U)coverings,
With colored (V)linens of Egypt.
17 I have sprinkled my bed
With (W)myrrh, aloes, and (X)cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning;
Let’s delight ourselves with caresses.
19 For [j]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey.
20 He has taken a (Y)bag of money [k]with him.
At the full moon he will come home.”
21 With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her [l](Z)flattering lips she seduces him.
22 Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as [m]one walks in ankle bracelets to the discipline of a fool,
23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a (AA)bird hurries to the snare,
So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 Now therefore, my sons, (AB)listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart (AC)turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.
26 For many are the [n]victims she has brought to ruin,
And (AD)numerous are all those slaughtered by her.
27 Her (AE)house is the way to Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death.
The Commendation of Wisdom
8 Does not (AF)wisdom call,
And understanding [o]raise her voice?
2 On top of (AG)the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the (AH)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, people, I call,
And my voice is to [p]mankind.
5 You (AI)naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you (AJ)fools, understand [q]wisdom!
6 Listen, for I will speak (AK)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal (AL)right things.
7 For my (AM)mouth will proclaim truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing (AN)crooked or perverted in them.
9 They are all (AO)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (AP)find knowledge.
10 Accept my (AQ)instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is (AR)better than [r]jewels;
And (AS)all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, (AT)dwell with prudence,
And I find (AU)knowledge and discretion.
13 The (AV)fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(AW)Pride, arrogance, (AX)the evil way,
And the (AY)perverted mouth, I hate.
14 (AZ)Advice is mine and (BA)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (BB)power is mine.
15 By me (BC)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 I (BD)love those who love me;
And (BE)those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 (BF)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring (BG)wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is (BH)better than gold, even pure gold;
And my yield better than (BI)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may (BJ)fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord [s]created me (BK)at the beginning of His way,
Before His works [t]of old.
23 From eternity I was [u](BL)established,
From the beginning, (BM)from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no (BN)ocean depths, I was born,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 (BO)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was born;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the [v]fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He (BP)established the heavens, I was there;
When (BQ)He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became [w]fixed,
29 When (BR)He set a boundary for the sea
So that the water would not violate His [x]command,
When He marked out (BS)the foundations of the earth;
30 Then (BT)I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was His delight daily,
[y]Rejoicing always before Him,
31 [z]Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having (BU)my delight in the sons of mankind.
32 “Now then, sons, (BV)listen to me,
For (BW)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (BX)Listen to instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 (BY)Blessed is the person who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 For (BZ)one who finds me finds life,
And (CA)obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But one who [aa]sins against me (CB)injures himself;
All those who (CC)hate me (CD)love death.”
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has (CE)built her house,
She has carved out her seven pillars;
2 She has [ab](CF)prepared her food, she has (CG)mixed her wine;
She has also (CH)set her table;
3 She has (CI)sent out her attendants, she (CJ)calls out
From the (CK)tops of the heights of the city:
4 “(CL)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who (CM)lacks [ac]understanding she says,
5 “Come, (CN)eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [ad]Abandon your foolishness and (CO)live,
And (CP)proceed in the way of understanding.”
7 One who (CQ)corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And one who rebukes a wicked person gets [ae]insults for himself.
8 (CR)Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(CS)Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;
Teach a righteous person and he will (CT)increase his insight.
10 The (CU)fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (CV)by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise (CW)for yourself,
And if you (CX)scoff, you alone will [af]suffer from it.
13 [ag]A woman of foolishness is (CY)boisterous,
She has a lack of understanding and (CZ)knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by (DA)the high places of the city,
15 Calling to those who pass by,
Who are going straight on their paths:
16 “(DB)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks [ah]understanding she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
And (DC)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the [ai]dead are there,
That her guests are in the (DD)depths of Sheol.
Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
10 The (DE)proverbs of Solomon.
(DF)A wise son makes a father glad,
But (DG)a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 [aj](DH)Ill-gotten gains do not benefit,
But righteousness rescues from death.
3 The Lord (DI)will not allow the [ak]righteous to hunger,
But He (DJ)will [al]reject the craving of the wicked.
4 Poor is one who works with [am]a lazy hand,
But the (DK)hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
6 (DL)Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But (DM)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The (DN)mentioning of the righteous is a blessing,
But (DO)the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The (DP)wise of heart will receive commands,
But [an]a babbling fool will come to ruin.
9 One (DQ)who walks in integrity walks securely,
But (DR)one who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 He (DS)who winks the eye causes trouble,
And [ao](DT)a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 The (DU)mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But (DV)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But (DW)love covers all offenses.
13 On (DX)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (DY)a rod is for the back of him who has no [ap]sense.
14 Wise people (DZ)store up knowledge,
But with (EA)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15 The (EB)rich person’s wealth is his [aq]fortress,
The (EC)ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The [ar](ED)wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 One who (EE)is on the path of life follows instruction,
But one who ignores a rebuke goes astray.
18 One (EF)who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And one who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are (EG)many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable,
But (EH)one who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like (EI)choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The (EJ)lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools (EK)die for lack of [as]understanding.
22 It is the (EL)blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like (EM)sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.
24 What (EN)the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the (EO)desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the (EP)whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the (EQ)righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the [at](ER)lazy one to those who send him.
27 The (ES)fear of the Lord prolongs [au]life,
But the (ET)years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The (EU)hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the (EV)expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 The (EW)way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright,
But (EX)ruin to the workers of injustice.
30 The (EY)righteous will never be shaken,
But (EZ)the wicked will not live in the land.
31 The (FA)mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the (FB)perverted tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know (FC)what is acceptable,
But the (FD)mouth of the wicked, what is perverted.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
11 A (FE)false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a (FF)just weight is His delight.
2 When (FG)pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.
3 The (FH)integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the (FI)perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 (FJ)Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath,
But (FK)righteousness rescues from death.
5 The (FL)righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But (FM)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will (FN)be caught by their own greed.
7 When a wicked person dies, his (FO)expectation will perish,
And the (FP)hope of strong people perishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked [av]takes his place.
9 With his (FQ)mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the (FR)righteous will be rescued.
10 When things (FS)go well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked, it is torn down.
12 One who despises his neighbor lacks [aw]sense,
But a person of understanding keeps silent.
13 One (FT)who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is [ax]trustworthy (FU)conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no (FV)guidance the people fall,
But in an abundance of counselors there is [ay]victory.
15 One who is a (FW)guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates [az]being a guarantor is secure.
16 A (FX)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17 A (FY)merciful person does [ba]himself good,
But the cruel person [bb]does himself harm.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
But one who (FZ)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 One who is steadfast in (GA)righteousness attains life,
But (GB)one who pursues evil attains his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the (GC)blameless in their [bc]walk are His (GD)delight.
21 [bd]Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished,
But the [be]descendants of the righteous will be rescued.
22 As a (GE)ring of gold in a pig’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the (GF)expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.
25 A [bf](GG)generous person will be [bg]prosperous,
And one who (GH)gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
26 One who withholds grain, the (GI)people will curse him,
But (GJ)blessing will be on the head of him who (GK)sells it.
27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But (GL)one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 One who (GM)trusts in his riches will fall,
But (GN)the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 One who (GO)troubles his own house will (GP)inherit wind,
And (GQ)the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (GR)a tree of life,
And (GS)one who is wise [bh]gains souls.
31 If (GT)the righteous will be repaid on the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
12 One who loves [bi]discipline loves knowledge,
But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
2 A (GU)good person will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a person [bj]who devises evil.
3 A person will (GV)not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the (GW)righteous will not be moved.
4 An [bk](GX)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like (GY)rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The (GZ)words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the (HA)mouth of the upright will rescue them.
7 The (HB)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (HC)house of the righteous will stand.
8 A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [bl]mind will be despised.
9 Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A (HD)righteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 One (HE)who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks [bm]sense.
12 The (HF)wicked person desires the [bn]plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous (HG)yields fruit.
13 [bo]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (HH)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be (HI)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [bp]words,
And the (HJ)deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15 The (HK)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 A (HL)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (HM)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (HN)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a (HO)lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (HP)No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 (HQ)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (HR)prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [bq]lazy hand will be (HS)put to forced labor.
25 (HT)Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a (HU)good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 [br]A lazy person does not [bs]roast his prey,
But the (HV)precious possession of a person is diligence.
28 (HW)In the way of righteousness there is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
13 A (HX)wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a (HY)scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a person’s mouth he [bt](HZ)enjoys good,
But the [bu]desire of the treacherous is (IA)violence.
3 One who (IB)guards his mouth protects his life;
One who (IC)opens wide his lips [bv]comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the [bw]lazy one craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made [bx]prosperous.
5 A righteous person (ID)hates a false statement,
But a wicked person [by](IE)acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6 Righteousness (IF)guards the [bz]one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness brings the [ca]sinner to ruin.
7 There is one who (IG)pretends to be rich but has nothing;
Another pretends to be (IH)poor, but has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
9 The (II)light of the righteous [cb]rejoices,
But the (IJ)lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 Through overconfidence [cc]comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11 Wealth obtained from [cd]nothing dwindles,
But one who gathers [ce]by labor increases it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire [cf]fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 One who (IK)despises the word will do badly,
But one who fears the commandment will be (IL)rewarded.
14 The [cg]teaching of the wise is a (IM)fountain of life,
To turn aside from the (IN)snares of death.
15 (IO)Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is [ch]their own disaster.
16 Every (IP)prudent person acts with knowledge,
But a fool [ci]displays foolishness.
17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
But (IQ)a faithful messenger brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame will come to one who (IR)neglects [cj]discipline,
But one who complies with rebuke will be honored.
19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 (IS)One who walks with wise people will be wise,
But a companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 (IT)Adversity pursues sinners,
But the (IU)righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22 A good person (IV)leaves an inheritance to his [ck]grandchildren,
And the (IW)wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 (IX)Abundant food is in the uncultivated ground of the poor,
But [cl]it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who (IY)withholds his [cm]rod hates his son,
But he who loves him [cn](IZ)disciplines him diligently.
25 The (JA)righteous [co]has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the (JB)wicked is in need.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
14 The (JC)wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 One who (JD)walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But one who is (JE)devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But (JF)the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean;
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A (JG)trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a (JH)false witness (JI)declares lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy for one who has understanding.
7 Leave the (JJ)presence of a fool,
Or you will not [cp]discern [cq]words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But (JK)the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at [cr]sin,
But (JL)among the upright there is [cs]goodwill.
10 The heart knows its own (JM)bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The (JN)house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There (JO)is a way which seems right to a person,
But its (JP)end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the (JQ)end of joy may be grief.
14 One with a wayward heart will have his (JR)fill of his own ways,
But a good person will (JS)be satisfied [ct]with his.
15 The naive believes everything,
But the sensible person considers his steps.
16 A wise person [cu]is cautious and (JT)turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
And a person of evil devices is hated.
18 The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The (JU)evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The (JV)poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21 One who (JW)despises his neighbor sins,
But (JX)one who is gracious to the [cv]poor is blessed.
22 Will they who (JY)devise evil not go astray?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But [cw]mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The (JZ)crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is simply foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But one who (KA)declares lies is [cx]deceitful.
26 In [cy](KB)the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And [cz]his children will have refuge.
27 [da]The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
By which one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 One who is (KC)slow to anger has great understanding;
But one who is [db]quick-tempered exalts foolishness.
30 A (KD)tranquil heart is life to the body,
But jealousy is (KE)rottenness to the bones.
31 One (KF)who oppresses the poor taunts (KG)his Maker,
But one who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is (KH)thrust down by his own wrongdoing,
But the (KI)righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But among fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a (KJ)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
15 A (KK)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [dc](KL)harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The (KM)tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
But the (KN)mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
3 The (KO)eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A [dd]soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it [de]crushes the spirit.
5 A fool [df]rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
6 Great wealth is in the house of the (KP)righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The (KQ)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But (KR)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves the one who (KS)pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;
One who hates a rebuke will die.
11 [dg](KT)Sheol and [dh]Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the (KU)hearts of [di]mankind!
12 A (KV)scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;
He will not go to the wise.
13 A (KW)joyful heart makes a [dj]cheerful face,
But [dk]when the heart is (KX)sad, the (KY)spirit is broken.
14 The (KZ)mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the [dl]needy are bad,
But a [dm]cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 (LA)Better is a little with [dn]the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure, and turmoil with [do]the treasure.
17 (LB)Better is a portion of [dp]vegetables where there is love,
Than a (LC)fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A (LD)hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
But the (LE)slow to anger (LF)calms a dispute.
19 The way of the [dq]lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A (LG)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man (LH)despises his mother.
21 Foolishness is joy to one who lacks [dr]sense,
But a person of understanding (LI)walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [ds]succeed.
23 A (LJ)person has joy in an [dt]apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely (LK)word!
24 The (LL)path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from [du]Sheol below.
25 The Lord will (LM)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will (LN)set the boundary of the (LO)widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who (LP)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (LQ)hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (LR)ponders how to answer,
But the (LS)mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (LT)far from the wicked,
But He (LU)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 [dv]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news [dw]refreshes the bones.
31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.
32 One who (LV)neglects discipline (LW)rejects himself,
But one who (LX)listens to a rebuke acquires [dx]understanding.
33 [dy]The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
16 The (LY)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (LZ)Lord examines the [dz]motives.
3 [ea](MA)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord (MB)has made everything for [eb]its own purpose,
Even the (MC)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[ec]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (MD)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [ed]the (ME)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He (MF)causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of a (MG)person plans his way,
But (MH)the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine (MI)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [ee]err in judgment.
11 A (MJ)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [ef]weights of the bag are His [eg]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (MK)throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [eh](ML)spring rain.
16 How much (MM)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (MN)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his [ei]life.
18 (MO)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (MP)humble in spirit with the needy
Than to (MQ)divide the spoils with the proud.
20 One who pays attention to the word will (MR)find good,
And (MS)blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The (MT)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [ej]speech (MU)increases [ek]persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The (MV)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [el]persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (MW)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (MX)healing to the bones.
25 (MY)There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his [em]hunger urges him on.
27 A (MZ)worthless person digs up evil,
While [en]his words are like (NA)scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a [eo]slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person of violence (NB)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A (NC)gray head is a crown of glory;
It (ND)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
33 The (NE)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (NF)decision is from the Lord.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
17 (NG)Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of [ep]feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The (NH)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (NI)the Lord tests hearts.
4 An (NJ)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [eq]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 One who mocks the (NK)poor taunts his Maker;
One who (NL)rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
6 (NM)Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the (NN)glory of sons is their fathers.
7 [er](NO)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (NP)lying lips to a prince.
8 A (NQ)bribe is a [es]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 One who (NR)conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter (NS)separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a (NT)person meet a (NU)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13 One who (NV)returns evil for good,
(NW)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (NX)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 One who (NY)justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to (NZ)buy wisdom,
When [et]he has no sense?
17 A (OA)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A person lacking in [eu]sense (OB)shakes hands
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 One who (OC)loves wrongdoing loves strife;
One who (OD)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked [ev]mind (OE)finds nothing good,
And one who is [ew](OF)corrupted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who (OG)fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A (OH)joyful heart [ex]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (OI)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person accepts a (OJ)bribe [ey]from an inside pocket
To (OK)pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (OL)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (OM)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And (ON)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to (OO)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who (OP)withholds his words [ez]has knowledge,
And one who has a (OQ)cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (OR)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He [fa](OS)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (OT)in revealing his own [fb]mind.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
4 The words of a person’s mouth are (OU)deep waters;
[fc]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To (OV)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (OW)suppress the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips [fd]bring strife,
And his mouth invites (OX)beatings.
7 A (OY)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [fe]innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is (OZ)lax in his work
(PA)Is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The (PB)name of the Lord is a (PC)strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and (PD)is [ff]safe.
11 A (PE)rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 (PF)Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But (PG)humility goes before honor.
13 One who (PH)gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
14 The (PI)spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a (PJ)broken spirit, who can endure it?
15 The [fg](PK)mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the (PL)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s (PM)gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.
17 The first [fh]to plead his case seems right,
Until [fi]another comes and examines him.
18 The cast (PN)lot puts an end to quarrels,
And [fj]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the [fk](PO)fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(PP)He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 (PQ)Death and life are in the [fl]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its (PR)fruit.
22 He who finds a (PS)wife finds a good thing
And (PT)obtains favor from the Lord.
23 A (PU)poor person utters pleadings,
But a (PV)rich person (PW)answers defiantly.
24 A person of too many friends comes to [fm]ruin,
But there is (PX)a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
On Life and Conduct
19 (PY)Better is a poor person who (PZ)walks in his integrity
Than a person who is perverse in [fn]speech and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And one who hurries [fo](QA)his footsteps [fp]errs.
3 The (QB)foolishness of a person ruins his way,
And his heart (QC)rages against the Lord.
4 (QD)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor person is separated from his friend.
5 A (QE)false witness will not go unpunished,
And one who (QF)declares lies will not escape.
6 (QG)Many will seek the favor of a [fq]generous person,
And every person is a friend to (QH)him who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor person hate him;
How much more do his (QI)friends abandon him!
He (QJ)pursues them with words, but they are [fr]gone.
8 One who gets [fs]wisdom loves his own soul;
One who keeps understanding will (QK)find good.
9 A (QL)false witness will not go unpunished,
And one who declares lies will perish.
10 Luxury is (QM)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (QN)slave to rule over princes.
11 A person’s (QO)discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory (QP)to overlook an offense.
12 A (QQ)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (QR)dew on the grass.
13 A (QS)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the (QT)quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an (QU)inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 (QV)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And [ft]a lazy [fu]person will suffer hunger.
16 One who (QW)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But one who [fv]is careless of [fw]conduct will die.
17 One who (QX)is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord,
And He will repay him for his [fx](QY)good deed.
18 (QZ)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire [fy]his death.
19 A person of great anger will suffer the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20 (RA)Listen to advice and accept discipline,
So that you may be wise [fz]the rest of your days.
21 Many (RB)plans are in a person’s heart,
But the (RC)advice of the Lord will stand.
22 What is desirable in a person is his [ga]kindness,
And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.
23 [gb]The (RD)fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep (RE)satisfied, [gc](RF)untouched by evil.
24 The [gd](RG)lazy one buries his hand (RH)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (RI)Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever,
But (RJ)rebuke one who has understanding, and he will [ge]gain knowledge.
26 He (RK)who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27 Stop listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [gf](RL)swallows wrongdoing.
29 [gg]Judgments are prepared for (RM)scoffers,
And (RN)beatings for the backs of fools.
On Life and Conduct
20 (RO)Wine is a mocker, (RP)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever [gh]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [gi](RQ)forfeits his own life.
3 (RR)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [gj]quarrel.
4 The [gk](RS)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [gl]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a person (RT)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (RU)trustworthy person?
7 A righteous person who (RV)walks in his integrity—
(RW)How blessed are his sons after him.
8 (RX)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[gm]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 (RY)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 [gn](RZ)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a boy [go](SA)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (SB)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 (SC)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [gp]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [gq]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
17 (SD)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (SE)plans by consultation,
And (SF)make war by wise guidance.
19 One who (SG)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [gr](SH)a gossip.
20 He who (SI)curses his father or his mother,
His (SJ)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:2 Or law
- Proverbs 7:2 Lit pupil
- Proverbs 7:5 Lit strange woman
- Proverbs 7:7 Lit sons
- Proverbs 7:7 Lit heart
- Proverbs 7:9 Lit evening of the day
- Proverbs 7:9 Lit pupil (of the eye)
- Proverbs 7:13 Lit She makes bold her face and says
- Proverbs 7:14 Lit Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me
- Proverbs 7:19 Lit the man
- Proverbs 7:20 Lit in his hand
- Proverbs 7:21 Lit smooth
- Proverbs 7:22 Or as a stag goes into a trap; as in some ancient versions, Heb is uncertain
- Proverbs 7:26 Lit wounded
- Proverbs 8:1 Lit give
- Proverbs 8:4 Lit sons of mankind
- Proverbs 8:5 Lit heart
- Proverbs 8:11 Lit corals
- Proverbs 8:22 Or possessed
- Proverbs 8:22 Lit from then
- Proverbs 8:23 Or consecrated
- Proverbs 8:26 Lit outside places
- Proverbs 8:28 Lit strong
- Proverbs 8:29 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 8:30 Or Playing
- Proverbs 8:31 Or Playing
- Proverbs 8:36 Or misses me
- Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
- Proverbs 9:4 Lit heart
- Proverbs 9:6 Or Abandon the naive
- Proverbs 9:7 Lit a blemish
- Proverbs 9:12 Lit bear
- Proverbs 9:13 Or A foolish woman
- Proverbs 9:16 Lit heart
- Proverbs 9:18 Lit departed spirits
- Proverbs 10:2 Lit Treasures of wickedness
- Proverbs 10:3 Lit soul of the righteous
- Proverbs 10:3 Lit thrust away
- Proverbs 10:4 Lit an idle hand
- Proverbs 10:8 Lit the foolish of lips
- Proverbs 10:10 Lit the foolish of lips
- Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart
- Proverbs 10:15 Lit strong city
- Proverbs 10:16 Or work
- Proverbs 10:21 Lit heart
- Proverbs 10:26 Lit idle one
- Proverbs 10:27 Lit days
- Proverbs 11:8 Lit enters
- Proverbs 11:12 Lit heart
- Proverbs 11:13 Lit faithful of spirit
- Proverbs 11:14 Lit deliverance
- Proverbs 11:15 Lit those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:17 Lit his soul
- Proverbs 11:17 Lit ruins his flesh
- Proverbs 11:20 Lit way
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit seed
- Proverbs 11:25 Lit soul of blessing
- Proverbs 11:25 Lit made fat
- Proverbs 11:30 Lit takes
- Proverbs 12:1 Or instruction
- Proverbs 12:2 Lit of evil devices
- Proverbs 12:4 Or virtuous
- Proverbs 12:8 Lit heart
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart
- Proverbs 12:12 Lit net (for trapping prey); another reading is mountain stronghold
- Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare
- Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle
- Proverbs 12:27 Lit An indolent
- Proverbs 12:27 Or catch
- Proverbs 13:2 Lit eats
- Proverbs 13:2 Lit soul
- Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his
- Proverbs 13:4 Lit idle
- Proverbs 13:4 Lit fat
- Proverbs 13:5 Lit causes a bad odor and causes shame
- Proverbs 13:6 Lit blamelessness of way
- Proverbs 13:6 Lit sin
- Proverbs 13:9 I.e., shines brightly
- Proverbs 13:10 Lit gives
- Proverbs 13:11 Prob. referring to fraud
- Proverbs 13:11 Lit by hand
- Proverbs 13:12 Lit coming
- Proverbs 13:14 Or law
- Proverbs 13:15 Cf. LXX in destruction; MT constant
- Proverbs 13:16 Lit spreads out
- Proverbs 13:18 Or instruction
- Proverbs 13:22 Lit sons’ sons
- Proverbs 13:23 Lit there is what is swept
- Proverbs 13:24 I.e., correction or discipline
- Proverbs 13:24 Lit seeks him diligently with discipline
- Proverbs 13:25 Lit eats to the satisfaction of his soul
- Proverbs 14:7 Lit know
- Proverbs 14:7 Lit lips
- Proverbs 14:9 Lit guilt
- Proverbs 14:9 Or the favor of God
- Proverbs 14:14 Lit from himself
- Proverbs 14:16 Lit fears
- Proverbs 14:21 Or afflicted
- Proverbs 14:23 Lit word of lips
- Proverbs 14:25 Lit a fraud
- Proverbs 14:26 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 14:26 Or His
- Proverbs 14:27 Or Reverence for
- Proverbs 14:29 Lit short of spirit
- Proverbs 15:1 Lit painful
- Proverbs 15:4 Lit healing
- Proverbs 15:4 Lit is the crushing of the spirit
- Proverbs 15:5 Or despises
- Proverbs 15:11 I.e., The netherworld
- Proverbs 15:11 I.e., place of destruction
- Proverbs 15:11 Lit sons of mankind
- Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
- Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart
- Proverbs 15:15 Or wretched
- Proverbs 15:15 Lit good
- Proverbs 15:16 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 15:16 Lit it
- Proverbs 15:17 Or herbs
- Proverbs 15:19 Lit idle
- Proverbs 15:21 Lit heart
- Proverbs 15:22 Or are established
- Proverbs 15:23 Lit answer of his mouth
- Proverbs 15:24 I.e., the netherworld
- Proverbs 15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens
- Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat
- Proverbs 15:32 Lit heart
- Proverbs 15:33 Or Reverence for
- Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
- Proverbs 16:4 Or His
- Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he
- Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit work
- Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter
- Proverbs 16:17 Lit soul
- Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
- Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:23 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
- Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip
- Proverbs 17:1 Lit sacrifices of strife
- Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood
- Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance
- Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor
- Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue
- Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
- Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
- Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows
- Proverbs 18:1 Lit breaks out
- Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom
- Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with
- Proverbs 18:8 Lit chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 18:10 Lit set on high
- Proverbs 18:15 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor
- Proverbs 18:18 Lit makes a division
- Proverbs 18:20 I.e., speech
- Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand
- Proverbs 18:24 Lit be broken in pieces
- Proverbs 19:1 Lit his lips
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit with his feet
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit sins
- Proverbs 19:6 Or noble
- Proverbs 19:7 Lit not
- Proverbs 19:8 Lit heart
- Proverbs 19:15 Lit an idle
- Proverbs 19:15 Lit soul
- Proverbs 19:16 Lit despises
- Proverbs 19:16 Lit ways
- Proverbs 19:17 Or benefits
- Proverbs 19:18 Lit causing him to die
- Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your latter end
- Proverbs 19:22 Or loyalty
- Proverbs 19:23 Or Reverence for
- Proverbs 19:23 Lit not visited
- Proverbs 19:24 Lit idle person
- Proverbs 19:25 Lit discern
- Proverbs 19:28 Another reading is pours out
- Proverbs 19:29 LXX Rods
- Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
- Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
- Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
- Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
- Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
- Proverbs 20:11 Or makes himself known
- Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
- Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
- Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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