Bible in 90 Days

⁶ For at ^(I)the window of my house
    I have looked out through my lattice,
⁷ and I have seen among ^(J)the simple,
    I have perceived among the youths,
    a young man ^(K)lacking sense,
⁸ passing along the street ^(L)near her corner,
    taking the road to her house
⁹ in ^(M)the twilight, in the evening,
    at ^(N)the time of night and darkness.

¹⁰ And behold, the woman meets him,
    ^(O)dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.^[c]
11 She is ^(P)loud and ^(Q)wayward;
    ^(R)her feet do not stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the market,
    and ^(S)at every corner she ^(T)lies in wait.
¹³ She seizes him and kisses him,
    and with ^(U)bold face she says to him,
¹⁴ “I had to ^(V)offer sacrifices,^[d]
    and today I have ^(W)paid my vows;
¹⁵ so now I have come out to meet you,
    to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
¹⁶ I have spread my couch with ^(X)coverings,
    colored linens from ^(Y)Egyptian linen;
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with ^(Z)myrrh,
    aloes, and ^(AA)cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
    let us delight ourselves with love.
¹⁹ For ^(AB)my husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey;
²⁰ he took a bag of money with him;
    at full moon he will come home.”

²¹ With much seductive speech she persuades him;
    with ^(AC)her smooth talk she compels him.
²² All at once he follows her,
    as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast^[e]
23     till an arrow pierces its liver;
as ^(AD)a bird rushes into a snare;
    he does not know that it will cost him his life.

²⁴ And ^(AE)now, O sons, listen to me,
    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
²⁵ Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
    do not stray into her paths,
²⁶ for many a victim has she laid low,
    and all her slain are ^(AF)a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is ^(AG)the way to Sheol,
    going down to the chambers of death.

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and ^(AZ)discretion.
^13 (BA)The fear of the Lord is ^(BB)hatred of evil.
^(BC)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and ^(BD)perverted speech I hate.
¹⁴ I have ^(BE)counsel and ^(BF)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; ^(BG)I have strength.
¹⁵ By me ^(BH)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
¹⁶ by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.^[f]
17 (BI)I love those who love me,
    and ^(BJ)those who seek me diligently find me.
^18 (BK)Riches and honor are with me,
    ^(BL)enduring wealth and ^(BM)righteousness.
¹⁹ My fruit is ^(BN)better than ^(BO)gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than ^(BP)choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
²¹ granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.

^22 (BQ)“The Lord ^(BR)possessed^[g] me at the beginning of his work,^[h]
    the first of his acts ^(BS)of old.
²³ Ages ago I was ^(BT)set up,
    at the first, ^(BU)before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴ When there were no ^(BV)depths I was ^(BW)brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains ^(BX)had been shaped,
    ^(BY)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 ^(BZ)established the heavens, I was there;
    when he drew ^(CA)a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he ^(CB)made firm the skies above,
    when he established^[i] the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he ^(CC)assigned to the sea its ^(CD)limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out ^(CE)the foundations of the earth,
³⁰     then ^(CF)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his^{[j] (CG)}delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
^31 (CH)rejoicing in his ^(CI)inhabited world
    and delighting in the children of man.

³² “And now, ^(CJ)O sons, listen to me:
    ^(CK)blessed are those who keep my ways.
^33 (CL)Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
^34 (CM)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
³⁵ For ^(CN)whoever finds me ^(CO)finds life
    and ^(CP)obtains favor from the Lord,
³⁶ but he who fails to find me ^(CQ)injures himself;
    all who ^(CR)hate me ^(CS)love death.”

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

^(EC)A wise son makes a glad father,
    ^(ED)but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
^2 (EE)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    ^(EF)but righteousness delivers from death.
^3 (EG)The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    ^(EH)but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴ A slack hand ^(EI)causes poverty,
    ^(EJ)but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵ He who ^(EK)gathers in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is ^(EL)a son who brings shame.
⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but ^(EM)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.^[o]
7 (EN)The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but ^(EO)the name of the wicked will rot.
^8 (EP)The wise of heart will receive commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
^9 (EQ)Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked ^(ER)will be found out.
¹⁰ Whoever ^(ES)winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
^11 (ET)The mouth of the righteous is ^(EU)a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked ^(EV)conceals violence.
¹² Hatred stirs up strife,
    but ^(EW)love covers all offenses.
¹³ On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but ^(EX)a rod is for the back of him who ^(EY)lacks sense.
¹⁴ The wise ^(EZ)lay up knowledge,
    but ^(FA)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
^15 (FB)A rich man's wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
¹⁶ The wage of the righteous leads ^(FC)to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷ Whoever heeds instruction is on ^(FD)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 (FE)When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    ^(FF)but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is ^(FG)choice silver;
    the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for ^(FH)lack of sense.
^22 (FI)The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.^[p]
23 Doing wrong is ^(FJ)like a joke to a fool,
    but ^(FK)wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
^24 (FL)What the wicked dreads ^(FM)will come upon him,
    but ^(FN)the desire of the righteous will be granted.
²⁵ When ^(FO)the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
    but ^(FP)the righteous is established forever.
²⁶ Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so is the sluggard to those who send him.
^27 (FQ)The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
    ^(FR)but the years of the wicked will be short.
^28 (FS)The hope of the righteous brings joy,
    ^(FT)but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
^29 (FU)The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
    but destruction to evildoers.
^30 (FV)The righteous will never be removed,
    but ^(FW)the wicked will not dwell in the land.
^31 (FX)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
³² The lips of the righteous ^(FY)know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked, ^(FZ)what is perverse.
11 ^(GA)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(GB)but a just weight is his delight.
^2 (GC)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with ^(GD)the humble is wisdom.
^3 (GE)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    ^(GF)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
^4 (GG)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    ^(GH)but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless ^(GI)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
^6 (GJ)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(GK)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷ When the wicked dies, his ^(GL)hope will perish,
    and ^(GM)the expectation of wealth^[q] perishes too.
^8 (GN)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
^10 (GO)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but ^(GP)by the mouth of the wicked ^(GQ)it is overthrown.
¹² Whoever ^(GR)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³ Whoever ^(GS)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴ Where there is ^(GT)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(GU)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
^15 (GV)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
^16 (GW)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(GX)violent men get riches.
^17 (GY)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(GZ)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(HA)will live,
    but ^(HB)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Those of ^(HC)crooked heart are ^(HD)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(HE)blameless ways are ^(HF)his delight.
^21 (HG)Be assured, ^(HH)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(HI)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²² Like ^(HJ)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(HK)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
^24 (HL)One gives ^(HM)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
^25 (HN)Whoever brings blessing ^(HO)will be enriched,
    and ^(HP)one who waters will himself be watered.
^26 (HQ)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(HR)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(HS)sells it.
²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[r]
    but evil comes to ^(HT)him who searches for it.
²⁸ Whoever ^(HU)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(HV)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹ Whoever ^(HW)troubles his own household will ^(HX)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is ^(HY)a tree of life,
    and whoever ^(HZ)captures souls is wise.
³¹ If ^(IA)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who ^(IB)hates reproof is ^(IC)stupid.
² A good man ^(ID)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³ No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of ^(IE)the righteous will never be moved.
^4 (IF)An excellent wife is ^(IG)the crown of her husband,
    but she who ^(IH)brings shame is like ^(II)rottenness in his bones.
^5 (IJ)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
⁶ The words of the wicked ^(IK)lie in wait for blood,
    but ^(IL)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
^7 (IM)The wicked are ^(IN)overthrown and are no more,
    ^(IO)but the house of the righteous will stand.
⁸ A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is ^(IP)despised.
⁹ Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
^10 (IQ)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
^11 (IR)Whoever works his land ^(IS)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(IT)but he who follows ^(IU)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹² Whoever is wicked covets ^(IV)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ An evil man is ensnared ^(IW)by the transgression of his lips,^{[s]
    (IX)}but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his mouth ^(IY)a man is satisfied with good,
    ^(IZ)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
^15 (JA)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
^16 (JB)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
^17 (JC)Whoever speaks^[t] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but ^(JD)a false witness utters deceit.
^18 (JE)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings ^(JF)healing.
¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(JG)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of ^(JH)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
^21 (JI)No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
^22 (JJ)Lying lips are ^(JK)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(JL)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
^23 (JM)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    ^(JN)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
^24 (JO)The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be ^(JP)put to forced labor.
^25 (JQ)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.
²⁶ One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,^[u]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
^27 (JR)Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
    but the diligent man will get precious wealth.^[v]
28 (JS)In the path of righteousness is life,
    and in its pathway there is no death.
13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but ^(JT)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
² From the fruit of his mouth a man ^(JU)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous ^(JV)is for violence.
^3 (JW)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    ^(JX)he who opens wide his lips ^(JY)comes to ruin.
^4 (JZ)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent ^(KA)is richly supplied.
⁵ The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame^[w] and disgrace.
^6 (KB)Righteousness guards him whose ^(KC)way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
^7 (KD)One pretends to be rich,^[x] yet has nothing;
    ^(KE)another pretends to be poor,^[y] yet has great wealth.
⁸ The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
    but a poor man ^(KF)hears no threat.
^9 (KG)The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but ^(KH)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
^10 (KI)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.
^11 (KJ)Wealth gained hastily^[z] will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    ^(KK)but a desire fulfilled is ^(KL)a tree of life.
¹³ Whoever ^(KM)despises ^(KN)the word^[aa] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment^[ab] will be ^(KO)rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is ^(KP)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(KQ)turn away from the snares of death.
^15 (KR)Good sense wins ^(KS)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.^{[ac]
16 (KT)}Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
    ^(KU)but a fool flaunts his folly.
¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but ^(KV)a faithful envoy brings healing.
¹⁸ Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^(KW)ignores instruction,
    ^(KX)but whoever ^(KY)heeds reproof is honored.
^19 (KZ)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
^21 (LA)Disaster^[ad] pursues sinners,
    ^(LB)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
^22 (LC)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but ^(LD)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through ^(LE)injustice.
^24 (LF)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.^{[ae]
25 (LG)}The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
14 ^(LH)The wisest of women ^(LI)builds her house,
    but folly with her own hands ^(LJ)tears it down.
² Whoever ^(LK)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is ^(LL)devious in his ways despises him.
³ By the mouth of a fool comes ^(LM)a rod for his back,^{[af]
    (LN)}but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
^5 (LO)A faithful witness does not lie,
    but ^(LP)a false witness breathes out lies.
^6 (LQ)A scoffer seeks wisdom ^(LR)in vain,
    but ^(LS)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
⁷ Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
^9 (LT)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.^[ag]
10 The heart knows its own ^(LU)bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
^11 (LV)The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
^12 (LW)There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but ^(LX)its end is the way to death.^[ah]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and ^(LY)the end of joy may be ^(LZ)grief.
¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be ^(MA)filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and ^(MB)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
^15 (MC)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
^16 (MD)One who is wise is cautious^[ai] and ^(ME)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
¹⁷ A man of ^(MF)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
^19 (MG)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
^20 (MH)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    ^(MI)but the rich has many friends.
²¹ Whoever ^(MJ)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but ^(MK)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
²² Do they not go astray who ^(ML)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet^{[aj] (MM)}steadfast love and faithfulness.
²³ In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk ^(MN)tends only to poverty.
²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who ^(MO)breathes out lies is deceitful.
²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has ^(MP)strong confidence,
    and ^(MQ)his children will have ^(MR)a refuge.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is ^(MS)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(MT)turn away from the snares of death.
²⁸ In ^(MU)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹ Whoever is ^(MV)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰ A tranquil^[ak] heart gives ^(MW)life to the flesh,
    but ^(MX)envy^[al] makes ^(MY)the bones rot.
³¹ Whoever oppresses a poor man ^(MZ)insults his ^(NA)Maker,
    ^(NB)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
^32 (NC)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but ^(ND)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
³³ Wisdom ^(NE)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[am]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
³⁵ A servant who deals wisely has ^(NF)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
15 ^(NG)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but ^(NH)a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but ^(NI)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
^3 (NJ)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
^4 (NK)A gentle^[an] tongue is ^(NL)a tree of life,
    but ^(NM)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
^5 (NN)A fool ^(NO)despises his father's instruction,
    but ^(NP)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
^7 (NQ)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    ^(NR)not so the hearts of fools.^[ao]
8 (NS)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(NT)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him ^(NU)who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is ^(NV)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    ^(NW)whoever hates reproof will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more ^(NX)the hearts of the children of man!
^12 (NY)A scoffer ^(NZ)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
^13 (OA)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by ^(OB)sorrow of heart the spirit is ^(OC)crushed.
^14 (OD)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but ^(OE)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
^16 (OF)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
^17 (OG)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than ^(OH)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
^18 (OI)A hot-tempered man ^(OJ)stirs up strife,
    but he who is ^(OK)slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹ The way of ^(OL)a sluggard is like a hedge of ^(OM)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is ^(ON)a level highway.
^20 (OO)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
^21 (OP)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding ^(OQ)walks straight ahead.
^22 (OR)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and ^(OS)a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴ The path of life leads upward ^(OT)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of ^(OU)the proud
    but ^(OV)maintains ^(OW)the widow's boundaries.
^26 (OX)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(OY)gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Whoever is ^(OZ)greedy for unjust gain ^(PA)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates ^(PB)bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(PC)ponders how to answer,
    but ^(PD)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹ The Lord is ^(PE)far from the wicked,
    but he ^(PF)hears the prayer of the righteous.
^30 (PG)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and ^(PH)good news refreshes^[ap] the bones.
^31 (PI)The ear that listens to ^(PJ)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
³² Whoever ^(PK)ignores instruction ^(PL)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof ^(PM)gains intelligence.
^33 (PN)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and ^(PO)humility comes before honor.

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but ^(PP)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
^2 (PQ)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(PR)weighs the spirit.^[aq]
3 (PS)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
^4 (PT)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(PU)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵ Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(PV)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(PW)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶ By ^(PX)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(PY)the fear of the Lord one ^(PZ)turns away from evil.
⁷ When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(QA)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
^8 (QB)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
^9 (QC)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(QD)the Lord establishes his steps.
^10 (QE)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
^11 (QF)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹² It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(QG)the throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (QH)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
^14 (QI)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(QJ)appease it.
^15 (QK)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(QL)favor is like ^(QM)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (QN)How much better to get wisdom than ^(QO)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(QP)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(QQ)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (QR)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (QS)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(QT)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[ar] (QU)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(QV)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(QW)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(QX)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (QY)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (QZ)Gracious words are like ^(RA)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(RB)health to the body.
²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[as]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(RC)mouth urges him on.
^27 (RD)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[at] is like ^(RE)a scorching fire.
^28 (RF)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(RG)a whisperer ^(RH)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(RI)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[au] (RJ)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(RK)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (RL)Gray hair is ^(RM)a crown of glory;
    it ^(RN)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (RO)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
^33 (RP)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(RQ)from the Lord.
17 ^(RR)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting^[av] with strife.
² A servant who deals wisely will rule over ^(RS)a son who acts shamefully
    and ^(RT)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
^3 (RU)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(RV)and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵ Whoever mocks the poor ^(RW)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(RX)glad at calamity will not go ^(RY)unpunished.
^6 (RZ)Grandchildren are ^(SA)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not ^(SB)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(SC)false speech to a prince.
^8 (SD)A bribe is like a magic^[aw] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever ^(SE)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(SF)separates close friends.
¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and ^(SG)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a man meet ^(SH)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    ^(SI)rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ If anyone ^(SJ)returns evil for good,
    ^(SK)evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(SL)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(SM)justifies the wicked and he who ^(SN)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(SO)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
^17 (SP)A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who ^(SQ)makes his door high seeks destruction.
^20 (SR)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹ He who ^(SS)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
^22 (ST)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit ^(SU)dries up the bones.
²³ The wicked accepts ^(SV)a bribe in secret^[ax]
    to ^(SW)pervert the ways of justice.
^24 (SX)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
^25 (SY)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    ^(SZ)and bitterness to ^(TA)her who bore him.
^26 (TB)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ Whoever ^(TC)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool ^(TD)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever ^(TE)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only ^(TF)in expressing his opinion.
³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴ The words of a man's mouth are ^(TG)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵ It is not good to ^(TH)be partial to^[ay] the wicked
    or to ^(TI)deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites ^(TJ)a beating.
^7 (TK)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
^8 (TL)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into ^(TM)the inner parts of the body.
⁹ Whoever is slack in his work
    is a ^(TN)brother to him who destroys.
^10 (TO)The name of the Lord is ^(TP)a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and ^(TQ)is safe.
^11 (TR)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
^12 (TS)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(TT)humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer ^(TU)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but ^(TV)a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man's ^(TW)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
^18 (TX)The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
^20 (TY)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
^21 (TZ)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²² He who finds ^(UA)a wife finds ^(UB)a good thing
    and ^(UC)obtains favor ^(UD)from the Lord.
²³ The poor use entreaties,
    but ^(UE)the rich answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but ^(UF)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19 ^(UG)Better is a poor person who ^(UH)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
² Desire^[az] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever ^(UI)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³ When a man's folly ^(UJ)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart ^(UK)rages against the Lord.
^4 (UL)Wealth brings many new friends,
    ^(UM)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
^5 (UN)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(UO)breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[ba]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ^(UP)gifts.
^7 (UQ)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    ^(UR)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[bb]
8 (US)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will ^(UT)discover good.
^9 (UU)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(UV)breathes out lies will perish.
^10 (UW)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for ^(UX)a slave to rule over princes.
^11 (UY)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
¹² A king's wrath is like ^(UZ)the growling of a lion,
    but his ^(VA)favor is like ^(VB)dew on the grass.
^13 (VC)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and ^(VD)a wife's quarreling is ^(VE)a continual dripping of rain.
^14 (VF)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is ^(VG)from the Lord.
^15 (VH)Slothfulness casts into ^(VI)a deep sleep,
    and ^(VJ)an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ Whoever ^(VK)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises his ways will die.
^17 (VL)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he ^(VM)will repay him for his ^(VN)deed.
^18 (VO)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on ^(VP)putting him to death.
¹⁹ A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in ^(VQ)the future.
^21 (VR)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but ^(VS)it is the purpose of the Lord ^(VT)that will stand.
²² What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord ^(VU)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests ^(VV)satisfied;
    he will ^(VW)not be visited by harm.
^24 (VX)The sluggard buries his hand in ^(VY)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
^25 (VZ)Strike ^(WA)a scoffer, and the simple will ^(WB)learn prudence;
    ^(WC)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
²⁶ He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is ^(WD)a son who brings shame and reproach.
²⁷ Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    ^(WE)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked ^(WF)devours iniquity.
²⁹ Condemnation is ready for ^(WG)scoffers,
    and ^(WH)beating for the backs of fools.
20 ^(WI)Wine is a mocker, ^(WJ)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever ^(WK)is led astray by it is not wise.^[bc]
2 The terror of a king is like ^(WL)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger ^(WM)forfeits his life.
³ It is an honor for a man to ^(WN)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
^4 (WO)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    ^(WP)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
⁵ The purpose in a man's heart is like ^(WQ)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶ Many a man ^(WR)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but ^(WS)a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The righteous who ^(WT)walks in his integrity—
    ^(WU)blessed are his children after him!
^8 (WV)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    ^(WW)winnows all evil with his eyes.
^9 (WX)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
^10 (WY)Unequal^[bd] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹¹ Even a child ^(WZ)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.^{[be]
12 (XA)}The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    ^(XB)the Lord has made them both.
^13 (XC)Love not sleep, lest you ^(XD)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have ^(XE)plenty of bread.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold and abundance of ^(XF)costly stones,
    ^(XG)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
^16 (XH)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and ^(XI)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^{[bf]
17 (XJ)}Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of ^(XK)gravel.
^18 (XL)Plans are established by counsel;
    by ^(XM)wise guidance ^(XN)wage war.
¹⁹ Whoever ^(XO)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(XP)a simple babbler.^{[bg]
20 (XQ)}If one curses his father or his mother,
    ^(XR)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
^21 (XS)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.