Proverbs 8:13-10:19

English Standard Version

^22 (Q)“The Lord ^(R)possessed^[b] me at the beginning of his work,^[c]
    the first of his acts ^(S)of old.
²³ Ages ago I was ^(T)set up,
    at the first, ^(U)before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴ When there were no ^(V)depths I was ^(W)brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains ^(X)had been shaped,
    ^(Y)before the hills, I was brought forth,
²⁶ before he had made the earth with its fields,
    or the first of the dust of the world.
²⁷ When he ^(Z)established the heavens, I was there;
    when he drew ^(AA)a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he ^(AB)made firm the skies above,
    when he established^[d] the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he ^(AC)assigned to the sea its ^(AD)limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out ^(AE)the foundations of the earth,
³⁰     then ^(AF)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his^{[e] (AG)}delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
^31 (AH)rejoicing in his ^(AI)inhabited world
    and delighting in the children of man.

³² “And now, ^(AJ)O sons, listen to me:
    ^(AK)blessed are those who keep my ways.
^33 (AL)Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
^34 (AM)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
³⁵ For ^(AN)whoever finds me ^(AO)finds life
    and ^(AP)obtains favor from the Lord,
³⁶ but he who fails to find me ^(AQ)injures himself;
    all who ^(AR)hate me ^(AS)love death.”

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
^8 (BK)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    ^(BL)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
⁹ Give instruction^[g] to a wise man, and he will be ^(BM)still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will ^(BN)increase in learning.
^10 (BO)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and ^(BP)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹ For by me ^(BQ)your days will be multiplied,
    and years will be added to your life.
^12 (BR)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
    if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

^(CC)A wise son makes a glad father,
    ^(CD)but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
^2 (CE)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    ^(CF)but righteousness delivers from death.
^3 (CG)The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    ^(CH)but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴ A slack hand ^(CI)causes poverty,
    ^(CJ)but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵ He who ^(CK)gathers in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is ^(CL)a son who brings shame.
⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but ^(CM)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.^[j]
7 (CN)The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but ^(CO)the name of the wicked will rot.
^8 (CP)The wise of heart will receive commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
^9 (CQ)Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked ^(CR)will be found out.
¹⁰ Whoever ^(CS)winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
^11 (CT)The mouth of the righteous is ^(CU)a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked ^(CV)conceals violence.
¹² Hatred stirs up strife,
    but ^(CW)love covers all offenses.
¹³ On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but ^(CX)a rod is for the back of him who ^(CY)lacks sense.
¹⁴ The wise ^(CZ)lay up knowledge,
    but ^(DA)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
^15 (DB)A rich man's wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
¹⁶ The wage of the righteous leads ^(DC)to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷ Whoever heeds instruction is on ^(DD)the path to life,
    but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.
^19 (DE)When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    ^(DF)but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.