Bible in 90 Days
22 Don’t say, “I’ll repay the evildoer!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
23 The Lord detests false weights;
deceptive scales aren’t right.
24 A person’s steps are from the Lord;
how then can people understand their path?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and only reflect after making the promise.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,
and runs them over with a wheel.
27 The breath of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all the inmost parts.
28 Kindness and faithfulness protect the king;
he supports his throne by kindness.
29 Strength is the glory of young men;
gray hair is the splendor of old age.
30 Blows and bruises remove evil;
beatings cleanse the inner parts.
21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
he directs it wherever he wants.
2 Everyone’s path is straight in their own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 Acting with righteousness and justice
is more valued by the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Prideful eyes, an arrogant heart, and
the lamp of the wicked are all sinful.
5 The plans of the diligent end up in profit,
but those who hurry end up with loss.
6 Those who gain treasure with lies
are like a drifting fog, leading to death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
for they refuse to act with justice.
8 The ways of some people are twisted and strange,
but the behavior of those who do right is pure.
9 Better to live on the edge of a roof
than with a contentious woman in a large house.
10 Wicked people desire evil;
their neighbors receive no mercy from them.
11 When a mocker is punished, the naive person gains wisdom;
when insight comes to the wise, knowledge increases.
12 The righteous one observes the house of the wicked,
turning the wicked toward trouble.
13 Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor
will themselves call out but receive no answer.
14 A secret gift calms anger,
and a hidden bribe removes[a] furious wrath.
15 Acting justly is a joy to the righteous,
but dreaded by those who do evil.
16 People who wander from the path of insight
will rest in the company of the dead.
17 Those who love pleasure end up poor;
lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.
18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous;
the treacherous will be punished[b] in the place of the virtuous.
19 Better to live in a wilderness
than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.
20 Precious treasure and oil stay in the home of the wise,
but fools swallow them up.
21 Those who pursue righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise person fought a city of warriors
and brought down the stronghold in which they felt safe.
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
guard themselves from trouble.
24 Incredibly proud—mockers are their name!
Their conduct involves excessive pride.
25 The desires of the lazy will kill them,
because their hands refuse to do anything.
26 The lazy desire things constantly,
but the righteous give without holding back.
27 The Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked,
especially when brought with devious motives.
28 A lying witness will perish,
but one who listens will testify successfully.
29 The wicked person appears brash,
but the virtuous think about the path ahead.
30 No wisdom, understanding,
or advice can stand up against the Lord.
31 A horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory belongs to the Lord.
22 A good reputation is better than much wealth;
high esteem is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common:
the Lord made them both.
3 Prudent people see trouble and hide,
while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked;
those who guard their lives keep their distance.
6 Train children in the way they should go;
when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.
7 The wealthy rule over the poor;
a borrower is a slave to a lender.
8 Those who sow injustice will harvest evil;
the rod of their fury will come to an end.
9 Happy are generous people,
because they give some of their food to the poor.
10 Remove the mocker and conflict disappears;
judgment and shame also stop.
11 Those who love a pure heart—
their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.
12 The Lord’s eyes protect knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the treacherous.
13 A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the street!
I’ll be killed in the town square!”
14 The mouth of a mysterious woman is a deep pit;
those under the Lord’s wrath will fall in it.
15 Folly is bound up in a child’s heart;
the rod of discipline removes it.
16 Oppressing the poor to get rich
and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.
Thirty sayings of the wise
17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise;
focus your mind on my knowledge.
18 It will be pleasant if you keep the words in you,
if you have them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust will be in the Lord,
I’m teaching you today—yes, you.
20 Haven’t I written for you thirty[c] sayings
full of advice and knowledge?
21 Their purpose is to teach you true, reliable words,
so you can report back reliably to those who sent you.
22 Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.
Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.
23 The Lord will take up their case
and press the life out of those who oppress them.[d]
24 Don’t befriend people controlled by anger;
don’t associate with hot-tempered people;
25 otherwise, you will learn their ways
and become trapped.
26 Don’t shake hands to guarantee a loan.
27 If you can’t repay,
why should they be able to take your bed from you?
28 Don’t remove an ancient boundary marker
that your ancestors established.
29 Do you see people who work skillfully?
They will work for kings
but not work for lowly people.
23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully consider what is in front of you.
2 Place a knife at your throat
to control your appetite.
3 Don’t long for the ruler’s delicacies;
the food misleads.
4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
be smart enough to stop.
5 When your eyes fly to wealth
it is gone; it grows wings
like an eagle and flies heavenward.
6 Don’t eat food with stingy people;
don’t long for their delicacies,
7 because they are like a hair in the throat.[e]
They say to you, “Eat and drink!”
but they don’t mean it.
8 You will eat scraps and vomit them out.
You will waste your pleasant words.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of fools,
for they will scorn your insightful words.
10 Don’t remove an ancient boundary marker;
don’t invade the fields of orphans,
11 for their redeemer is strong.
He will bring charges against you.
12 Bring your mind to instruction,
your ear to knowledgeable sayings.
13 Don’t withhold instruction from children;
if you strike them with a rod, they won’t die.
14 Strike them with a rod,
and you will save their lives from the grave.[f]
15 My child, if your heart is wise,
then my heart too will be happy.
16 My inner being will rejoice
when your lips speak with integrity.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
but fear the Lord constantly;
18 then you will have a future,
and your hope won’t be cut off.
19 Listen, my child, and be wise!
Keep your mind straight on the path.
20 Don’t hang out with those who get drunk on wine
or those who eat too much meat,
21 because drunks and gluttons will be impoverished;
their stupor will clothe them in rags.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life;
don’t despise your elderly mother.
23 Buy truth and don’t sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will be very happy;
the one who gives life to the wise will rejoice.
25 Your father and your mother will rejoice;
she who gave you birth will be happy.
26 My child, give your mind to me
and let your eyes keep to my path.
27 A prostitute is a deep pit,
and a foreign woman is a narrow well.
28 Indeed, she ambushes like a robber
and increases the number of the faithless.
29 Who is suffering?
Who is uneasy?
Who has arguments?
Who has complaints?
Who has unnecessary wounds?
Who has glazed eyes?—
30 those who linger over wine;
those who go looking for mixed wine.
31 Don’t look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
going down smoothly.
32 In the end, it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart will speak distorted words.
34 You will be like one who lies down while out on the sea[g]
or one who lies on top of a mast.
35 “Though hit, I feel no pain;
though beaten up, I don’t know anything about it.
When I wake up,
I’ll look for wine again!”
24 Don’t envy evil people,
and don’t long to be with them.
2 Their hearts are focused on violence,
and their lips speak of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built;
by understanding it is established.
4 By knowledge rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant wealth.
5 A wise person is mightier than a strong one;[h]
a knowledgeable person than a powerful one.
6 You should make war with guidance;
victory comes with many counselors.
7 Wisdom is beyond foolish people.
They don’t open their mouths in the gate.
8 Those who plot evil
will be called master schemers.
9 The scheming of fools is sin;
people detest mockers.
10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress,
your strength is too small.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death;
and from those staggering to the slaughter, don’t hold back.
12 If you say, “Look, we didn’t know about it,”
the one who weighs hearts—doesn’t he understand?
The one who protects your life—he knows.
He makes people pay for their actions.
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good.
The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
14 Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being.
If you find it, there is a future.
Your hope won’t be cut off.
15 Wicked one, don’t wait secretly at the home of the righteous.
Don’t destroy their dwelling.
16 The righteous may fall seven times but still get up,
but the wicked will stumble into trouble.
17 When your enemies fall, don’t rejoice.
When they stumble, don’t let your heart be glad,
18 or the Lord will see it and be displeased,
and he will turn his anger from them.
19 Don’t get fighting mad at evil people;
don’t be envious of the wicked.
20 Indeed, there is no future for the evil;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king.
Don’t associate with those who are rebellious.
22 Disaster comes suddenly from them.
Who can know the ruin that both can bring?
More sayings of the wise
23 These are also the sayings of the wise:
Partiality in judgment isn’t good.
24 Those who say to the guilty, “You are innocent”—
the people will curse them.
Nations will condemn them.
25 But it will go well for those who rebuke them.
A rich blessing will come to them.
26 Those who speak honestly
are like those who kiss on the lips.
27 Get your outside work done;
make preparations in the field;
then you can build your house.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without reason;
don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to them what they did to me.
I’ll pay them back for their actions.”
30 I happened upon the field of a lazy person,
by the vineyard of one with no sense.
31 Thorns grew all over it;
weeds covered the ground,
and the stone wall was falling down.
32 I observed this and took it to heart;
I saw it and learned a lesson.
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little lying down with folded arms”—
34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler,
deprivation like a man with a shield.
More proverbs of Solomon
25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to hide something
and the glory of kings to discover something.
3 Like the high heavens and the depths of the earth,
so the mind of a king is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a vessel will come out for the refiner.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
or stand in the place of important people,
7 because it is better that he say to you,
“Come up here,”
than to be demoted before a ruler.
What your eyes see, 8 don’t be quick to quarrel over;
what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?
9 Argue it out with your neighbor,
and don’t give away someone’s secret.
10 Otherwise, the one who hears it will vilify you;
the slander against you will never stop.
11 Words spoken at the right time
are like gold apples in a silver setting.
12 Wise correction to an ear that listens
is like a gold earring or jewelry of fine gold.
13 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day
are reliable messengers to those who send them;
they restore the life of their master.
14 People who brag about a gift never given
are like clouds and wind that produce no rain.
15 A commander can be persuaded with patience,
and a tender tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just the right amount;
otherwise, you’ll get full and vomit it up.
17 Don’t spend too much time in your neighbor’s house.
Otherwise, they’ll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 People who testify falsely against their neighbors
are like a club, sword, and sharpened arrow.
19 Trusting a treacherous person at a difficult time
is like having a bad tooth or a wobbly foot.
20 Singing a song to a troubled heart
is like taking off a garment on a cold day
or putting vinegar on a wound.[i]
21 If your enemies are starving, feed them some bread;
if they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 By doing this, you will heap burning coals on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind stirs up rain,
and a person who plots quietly provokes angry faces.
24 Better to live on the edge of a roof
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Good news from a distant land
is like cold water for a weary person.
26 A righteous person giving in to the wicked
is like a contaminated spring or a polluted fountain.
27 Eating too much honey isn’t good,
nor is it appropriate to seek honor.
28 A person without self-control
is like a breached city, one with no walls.
26 Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest,
so honor isn’t appropriate for a fool.
2 Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
so an undeserved curse never arrives.
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
or you will become like them yourself.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will deem themselves wise.
6 Sending messages with a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking down violence.
7 As legs dangle from a disabled person,
so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling,
so is giving respect to a fool.
9 Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly,
so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
12 Do you see people who consider themselves wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the path!
A lion in the plazas!”
14 As a door turns on its hinge,
so do lazy people in their beds.
15 Lazy people bury their hand into the bowl,
too tired to return it to their mouth.
16 Lazy people think they are wiser
than seven people who answer sensibly.
17 Like yanking the ears of a dog,
so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person’s fight.
18 Like a crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows
19 are those who deceive their neighbor and say, “Hey, I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossips, conflict calms down.
21 Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire,
quarrelsome people kindle strife.
22 The words of gossips are like choice snacks;
they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Smooth[j] lips and an evil heart
are like silver coating on clay.
24 Hateful people mislead with their lips,
keeping their deception within.
25 Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them,
for seven horrible things are in their heart.
26 They may cover their hatred with trickery,
but their evil will be revealed in public.
27 Those who dig a pit will fall in it;
those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
a flattering mouth causes destruction.
27 Don’t brag about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day will bring.
2 Let another person praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand weighs much,
but the nuisance of fools is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?
5 A public correction is better than hidden love.
6 Trustworthy are the bruises of a friend;
excessive are the kisses of an enemy.
7 Someone who is full refuses honey,
but anything bitter tastes sweet to a hungry person.
8 Like a bird wandering from its nest,
so is one who wanders from home.
9 Oil and incense make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of friends comes from their advice.[k]
10 Don’t desert your friend or a friend of your family;
don’t go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes.
Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
so I can answer those who insult me.
12 Prudent people see evil and hide;
the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.
13 Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;
take his pledge for a foreigner.
14 Greeting a neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning
will be viewed as a curse.
15 The constant dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 anyone who can control her
can control the wind
or pick up oil in his hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens a friend.
18 Those who tend a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and those who look after their master will be honored.
19 As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects one person to another.
20 The grave[l] and the underworld[m] are never satisfied;
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.
21 A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold;
so are people in the presence of someone who praises them.
22 Even if you grind fools in a mortar,
even grinding them along with the grain,
their folly won’t be driven from them.
23 Know your flock well;
pay attention to your herds,
24 for no treasure lasts forever,
nor a crown generation after generation.
25 When the grass goes away, new growth appears,
and the plants of the hills are gathered,
26 then the lambs will provide your clothes,
and the goats will be the price of your fields.
27 There will be enough goat’s milk for your food,
for the food of your house,
and to nourish your young women.
28 The wicked run away even though no one pursues them,
but the righteous are as confident as a lion.
2 When a land rebels, there are many leaders;
but a person with understanding brings order.
3 Poor people who oppress the needy
are rain that washes away food.
4 Those who abandon Instruction praise the wicked,
but those who follow Instruction battle them.
5 Evil people don’t understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6 Better to be poor and walk in innocence
than to be on crooked paths and wealthy.
7 Intelligent children follow Instruction,
but those who befriend gluttons shame their parents.
8 Those who become rich through high interest rates
gather money for those who are generous to the poor.
9 Those who turn their ears from hearing Instruction—
even their prayers will be detested.
10 Whoever misleads those who do right onto an evil path
will fall into their own pit,
but the blameless will inherit good things.
11 Rich people think they are wise,
but an insightful poor person sees through them.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great respect,
but people hide when the wicked prosper.
13 Those who hide their sins won’t succeed,
but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy.
14 Happy are those who are continually fearful,
but those whose hearts are hard fall into trouble.
15 A wicked ruler over the poor
is like a growling lion or a prowling bear.
16 A prince without understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but one who hates unjust gain will live long.
17 If someone feels guilty about murder,
don’t hold them back from fleeing to the pit.
18 Those who walk in innocence will be saved,
but those who go on twisted paths will fall into the grave.
19 Those who work the land will have plenty to eat,
but those with worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 Reliable people will have abundant blessings,
but those with get-rich-quick schemes won’t go unpunished.
21 Those who show favoritism aren’t good;
people do wrong for a crust of bread.
22 The stingy try to get rich fast,
unaware that loss will come to them.
23 Those who correct someone will, in the end, find more favor
than those with flattering tongues.
24 Those who steal from their father and mother,
and say, “It’s not a crime,”
are friends of vandals.
25 Greedy people stir up conflict,
but those who trust the Lord become prosperous.
26 Those who trust in their own reasoning are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom will be kept safe.
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
but those who turn a blind eye will be greatly cursed.
28 When the wicked rise up, people hide,
but when they are destroyed, the righteous multiply.
29 One who stays stubborn after many corrections
will be suddenly broken, beyond healing.
2 When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked dominate, the people moan.
3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
but one who spends time with prostitutes destroys riches.
4 A king gives stability to the land by justice,
but one who imposes heavy taxes tears it down.
5 People who flatter their friends
spread out a net for their feet.
6 The wicked are snared by their own sin;[n]
the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous know the rights of the poor,
but the wicked don’t understand.
8 Mockers set a city on fire,
but the wise turn back anger.
9 When the wise make a legal charge against the foolish,
the fools shout, they laugh—there is no calm.
10 Murderous people hate the innocent,
and they seek the lives of the virtuous.
11 Fools show all their anger,
but the wise hold it back.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
those who serve him will be wicked.
13 The poor and their oppressors have a common bond—
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor honestly,
his throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and correction lead to wisdom,
but children out of control shame their mothers.
16 When the wicked become numerous, so do crimes;
the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Instruct your children; they will give you peace of mind
and bring delight into your life.
18 When there’s no vision, the people get out of control,
but whoever obeys instruction is happy.
19 Servants aren’t disciplined by words;
they might understand, but they don’t respond.
20 Do you see people who are quick to speak?
There is more hope for fools than for them.
21 Pamper servants from a young age,
and later on there will be trouble.
22 Angry people stir up conflict;
hotheads cause much offense.
23 Pride lays people low,
but those of humble spirit gain honor.
24 Those who share plunder with thieves hate themselves;
even under oath, they don’t testify.
25 People are trapped by their fear of others;
those who trust the Lord are secure.
26 Many seek access to the ruler,
but justice comes from the Lord.
27 The unjust person is disgusting to the righteous;
the straight path is disgusting to the wicked.
Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur, Jakeh’s son, from Massa.
The man declares: I’m tired, God;
I’m tired, God, and I’m exhausted.
2 Actually, I’m too stupid to be human,
a man without understanding.
3 I haven’t learned wisdom,
nor do I have knowledge of the holy one.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind by the handful?
Who has bound up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is this person’s name and the name of this person’s child—
if you know it?
5 All God’s words are tried and true;
a shield for those who take refuge in him.
6 Don’t add to his words,
or he will correct you and show you to be a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you;
don’t keep them from me before I die:
8 Fraud and lies—
keep far from me!
Don’t give me either poverty or wealth;
give me just the food I need.
9 Or I’ll be full and deny you,
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or I’ll be poor and steal,
and dishonor my God’s name.
More sayings of the wise
10 Don’t slander a servant to his master;
otherwise, the servant will curse you, and you will be guilty.
11 There are those who curse their father
and don’t bless their mother.
12 There are those who think they are clean,
but haven’t washed off their own excrement.
13 There are those—
how arrogant are their eyes;
how their eyebrows are raised!
14 There are those whose teeth are swords;
their jaw is a butcher’s knife,
ready to devour the needy from the earth,
and the poor from humanity.
15 The leech has two daughters: “Give, give!”
There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, “Enough!”:
16 the grave[o] and a barren womb,
a land never filled with water,
and fire that doesn’t say, “Enough!”
17 An eye that mocks a father
and rejects obedience to a mother,
may the ravens of the river valley peck it out,
and the eagle’s young eat it.
18 Three things are too wonderful for me,
four that I can’t figure out:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on the rock,
the way of a ship out on the open sea,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
she eats and wipes her mouth,
and she says, “I’ve done nothing wrong!”
21 At three things the earth trembles,
at four it can’t bear up:
22 at a servant when he becomes king
and fools when they are full of food;
23 at a detested woman when she gets married
and a female servant when she replaces her mistress.
24 Four things are among the smallest on earth,
but they are extremely wise:
25 Ants as creatures aren’t strong,
but they store away their food in the summer.
26 Badgers as creatures aren’t powerful,
but they make their homes in the rocks.
27 Locusts don’t have a king,
but they march together in ranks.
28 You can catch lizards in your hand,
but they are in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things that are excellent in their stride,
four that are excellent as they walk:
30 a lion, a warrior among beasts,
which doesn’t back down at anything;
31 the strut of a rooster or a male goat;
and a king with his army.
32 If you’ve been foolish and arrogant,
if you’ve been scheming,
put your hand to your mouth,
33 because churning milk makes curds,
squeezing the nose brings blood,
and stirring up anger produces strife.
Words of King Lemuel
31 The words of King Lemuel of Massa, which his mother taught him:
2 No, my son!
No, son of my womb!
No, son of my solemn promises!
3 Don’t give your strength to women,
your ways to those who wipe out kings.
4 It isn’t for kings, Lemuel,
it isn’t for kings to drink wine,
for rulers to crave[p] strong drink.
5 Otherwise, they will drink and forget the law,
and violate the rights of the needy.
6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing
and wine to those whose hearts are bitter.
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
and no longer remember their toil.
8 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[q]
9 Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
The competent wife
10 A competent wife, how does one find her?
Her value is far above pearls.
11 Her husband entrusts his heart to her,
and with her he will have all he needs.
12 She brings him good and not trouble
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax;
she works joyfully with her hands.
14 She is like a fleet of merchant ships,
bringing food from a distance.
15 She gets up while it is still night,
providing food for her household,
even some for her female servants.
16 She surveys a field and acquires it;
from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.
17 She works energetically;
her arms are powerful.
18 She realizes that her trading is successful;
she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.
19 She puts her hands to the spindle;
her palms grasp the whorl.
20 She reaches out to the needy;
she stretches out her hands to the poor.
21 She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,
because they are all dressed in warm[r] clothes.
22 She makes bedspreads for herself;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
23 Her husband is known in the city gates
when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 She makes garments and sells them;
she supplies sashes to traders.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
she is confident about the future.
26 Her mouth is full of wisdom;
kindly teaching is on her tongue.
27 She is vigilant over the activities of her household;
she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.
28 Her children bless her;
her husband praises her:
29 “Many women act competently,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Let her share in the results of her work;
let her deeds praise her in the city gates.
Opening motto
1 The words of the Teacher of the Assembly,[s] David’s son, king in Jerusalem:
2 Perfectly pointless,[t] says the Teacher, perfectly pointless.
Everything is pointless.
Some things are inevitable
3 What do people gain from all the hard work
that they work so hard at under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains as it always has.
5 The sun rises, the sun sets;
it returns panting to the place where it dawns.
6 The wind blows to the south,
goes around to the north;
around and around blows the wind;
the wind returns to its rounds again.
7 All streams flow to the sea,
but the sea is never full;
to the place where the rivers flow,
there they continue to flow.
8 All words[u] are tiring;
no one is able to speak.
The eye isn’t satisfied with seeing,
neither is the ear filled up by hearing.
9 Whatever has happened—that’s what will happen again;
whatever has occurred—that’s what will occur again.
There’s nothing new under the sun. 10 People may say about something: “Look at this! It’s new!” But it was already around for ages before us. 11 There’s no remembrance of things in the past, nor of things to come in the future. Neither will there be any remembrance among those who come along in the future.
The Teacher’s quest
12 I am the Teacher. I was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 I applied my mind to investigate and to explore by wisdom all that happens under heaven. It’s an unhappy obsession that God has given to human beings.
14 When I observed all that happens under the sun, I realized that everything is pointless, a chasing after wind.
15 What’s crooked can’t be straightened;
what isn’t there can’t be counted.
16 I said to myself, Look here, I have grown much wiser than any who ruled over Jerusalem before me. My mind has absorbed great wisdom and knowledge. 17 But when I set my mind to understand wisdom, and also to understand madness and folly, I realized that this too was just wind chasing.
18 Remember:
In much wisdom is much aggravation;
the more knowledge, the more pain.
2 I said to myself,[v] Come, I will make you[w] experience pleasure; enjoy what is good! But this too was pointless! 2 Merriment, I thought, is madness; pleasure, of no use at all. 3 I tried cheering myself with wine and by embracing folly—with wisdom still guiding me—until I might see what is really worth doing in the few days that human beings have under heaven.
4 I took on great projects: I built houses for myself, planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, planting every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I made reservoirs for myself to water my lush groves. 7 I acquired male servants and female servants; I even had slaves born in my house. I also had great herds of cattle and sheep, more than any who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, the treasures of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers for myself, along with every human luxury, treasure chests galore![x] 9 So I became far greater than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. Moreover, my wisdom stood by me. 10 I refrained from nothing that my eyes desired. I refused my heart no pleasure. Indeed, my heart found pleasure from the results of my hard work; that was the reward from all my hard work. 11 But when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I had worked so hard to achieve, I realized that it was pointless—a chasing after wind. Nothing is to be gained under the sun.
12 My reflections then turned to wisdom, madness, and folly. What can the king’s heir do but what has already been done? 13 I saw that wisdom is more beneficial than folly, as light is more beneficial than darkness.
14 The wise have eyes in their head,
but fools walk around in darkness.
But I also realized that the same fate happens to both of them. 15 So I thought to myself, What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise? I said to myself, This too is pointless. 16 There is no eternal memory of the wise any more than the foolish,[y] because everyone is forgotten before long. How can the wise die just like the fool? 17 So I hated life, because the things that happen under the sun were troublesome to me. Definitely, everything is pointless—just wind chasing.
18 I hated the things I worked so hard for here under the sun, because I will have to leave them to someone who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether that one will be wise or foolish? Either way, that person will have control over the results of all my hard work and wisdom here under the sun. That too is pointless. 20 I then gave myself up to despair, as I thought about all my laborious hard work under the sun, 21 because sometimes those who have worked hard with wisdom, knowledge, and skill must leave the results of their hard work as a possession to those who haven’t worked hard for it. This too is pointless—it’s a terrible wrong. 22 I mean, What do people get for all their hard work and struggles under the sun? 23 All their days are pain, and their work is aggravation; even at night, their hearts don’t find rest. This too is pointless.
24 There’s nothing better for human beings than to eat, drink, and experience pleasure in their hard work. I also saw that this is from God’s hand— 25 Who can eat and find enjoyment otherwise?— 26 because God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please God. But to those who are offensive,[z] God gives the task of hoarding and accumulating, but only so as to give it all to those who do please God. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible