Bible in 90 Days
More danger![a]
7 My child, remember what I say. Keep my commands in your mind.
2 Obey my commands, so that you live well. Keep my teaching safe. It is as valuable as your own eyes. 3 Keep it always in front of you. Think about my message all the time, as if you have written it on your heart.
4 Love wisdom in the same way that you love your sister. Be very careful to understand what is right. 5 If you do that, it will keep you safe from sin. You will not agree to sleep with an adulteress or a prostitute when she speaks sweet words to you.
The adulteress[b]
6 Once I was looking out through the window of my house. 7 I saw a group of silly young men. One of them was not wise at all. 8 He was walking along the street near the house of a bad woman. 9 It was in the evening after it had become dark. 10 Then the woman came out to meet him! She was wearing the clothes of a prostitute. She knew what she wanted to do.
11 This was a woman who did not respect anyone. She was not ashamed of the bad things that she did. She never stayed at her home. 12 Instead she would stand in the streets and in the market place. She would wait at the corners of the streets to find a man.
13 Now she took hold of the young man and she kissed him. She looked into his eyes without any shame. 14 She said to him, ‘I offered a sacrifice to God today and I have the meat at my home. 15 That is why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you, and now I have found you!
16 I have covered my bed with beautiful blankets and with valuable cloths from Egypt. 17 I have splashed many kinds of perfume on my bed, like myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 So come and join me for the night. We can lie in each other's arms. All night, we can enjoy as much sex as we like. 19 My husband is not at home. He has gone away on a long journey. 20 He took a big bag of money with him. He will not come back until later this month.’
21 With those sweet words she deceived the young man. She made him want to be with her. 22 Suddenly he hurried to follow her! He went like an ox that men are leading to its death. He went like a deer that is running towards a trap. 23 Then an arrow will go straight into its body and kill it! The young man was like a bird that is flying into a trap. He did not know that his life was in danger.
24 So listen to me, my sons. Listen carefully to what I am saying. 25 Do not let that kind of woman spoil your mind. Do not let her lead you away from what is right. 26 She has caused many men to fall. Because of her, too many men have thrown away their lives.
27 If you go to her house, you are on the road to death. You will soon be in your grave.
Listen to Wisdom![c]
8 Listen! Wisdom is calling out. She wants you to understand what is right, so she speaks in a loud voice. 2 She stands where people will hear her, on the hills along the road. She stands where different paths meet. 3 She stands near the gates where people go into the city. This is what she says:
4 ‘I call out to all of you, wherever you live on earth.
5 You who are silly, learn to be wise!
You who are fools, learn to understand what is right.
6 Listen! I have important things to tell you.
Everything that I will speak is right.
7 I say only things that are true.
I hate all wicked lies.
8 Everything that I say is right and true.
I say nothing that will deceive you.
9 If you understand what is right, you will understand all my words.
If you have knowledge, you will know that they are true.
10 Receive my wise teaching and knowledge as valuable things.
They are more valuable than silver or the best gold.
11 Wisdom is more valuable than jewels.
Nothing that you might ever want is equal to it.
12 I, wisdom, live with an honest mind as my friend.
I have knowledge and I understand what is right.
13 If you respect the Lord with fear, then you will hate anything that is evil.
I hate proud people who boast.
I hate people who live evil lives.
I hate people who say things to deceive others.
14 I tell people how to do wise things that are right.
I understand what is right and I am strong.
15 I help kings to rule well.
I help rulers to make fair laws.
16 I help leaders, officers and all judges to lead people in a good way.
17 I love those people who love me.
Whoever looks for me will find me.
18 I am able to give people riches and honour.
I help people to use their money well and to do what is right.
19 What you receive from me is better than the best gold.
It is better than the best silver.
20 I walk along the way that is righteous.
I follow the path of justice.
21 In that way, people who love me will receive riches.
I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 The Lord created me as the first thing that he did.
That was the first of his acts long ago.
23 He chose me as his servant from the beginning of time.
That was before the world began.
24 I was born before the deep seas were there.
There were not yet springs that poured out water.
25 I was born before the mountains or the hills appeared in their places.
26 I was born before the Lord made the earth and its fields,
before there was soil on the earth.
27 I was there when he put the heavens in their place.
I was there when he made the border of the sea where it meets the sky.
28 I was there when he put the clouds in the sky.
I was there when he made streams of water fill the seas.
29 He gave his command to the seas, that they should obey him.
The waters of the sea must stay inside its borders.
I was there when he built the foundations of the earth.
30 When the Lord made all that happen,
I was beside him as his faithful helper.
I pleased him every day, and I was happy to be with him.
31 The world that he had made gave me great joy.
The people who lived on it made me happy.
32 So listen to me, my children.
Anyone who obeys my teaching will be happy.
33 Listen when I tell you what is right for you to do.
Then you will be wise.
Do not forget what I tell you.
34 Anyone who listens to me is in a happy place.
You can wait outside my home each day, and I will teach you.
35 Anyone who finds me, wisdom, finds true life.
The Lord will bless that person.
36 But anyone who does not find me brings trouble on himself.
Everybody who hates me loves death.’
Two women[d]
9 The woman who is called ‘Wisdom’ has built her house with seven pillars to make it strong.
2 She has killed an animal for a big meal. She has mixed her wine. She has also prepared her table. 3 She has sent her servants to shout a message from the highest places in the town.
4 She says to foolish people, ‘Come here to me.’
She says to people who do not understand what is right, 5 ‘Come here and eat my food. Drink the wine that I have mixed. 6 Leave foolish ways so that you may live. Learn to understand what is right, so that you can do it.’
7 If you warn a person who is proud, he will insult you. If you tell a wicked person that he is wrong, he will hurt you. 8 So do not warn proud people. They will only hate you.
But if you warn a wise person, he will love you. 9 If you teach a wise person, he will become even more wise. If you teach a righteous person, he will learn whatever you tell him.
10 If you want to be wise in the way that you live, first you must respect the Lord with fear. If you know God, the Holy One, you will understand what is right.
11 Wisdom will add more days and years to your life.
12 If you are wise, it will help you in many ways. But if you think that you do not need wisdom, you will bring trouble on yourself.
13 The woman who is called ‘Fool’ speaks in a loud voice. She is silly and she does not know anything. 14 She sits at the door of her house. She also has a seat at the highest part of the city. 15 She shouts her message to people as they pass along the road to do their work.
16 She says to people who do not understand what is right, ‘Anyone who is foolish should come in here. 17 If you drink water that belongs to someone else, it tastes very sweet! If you eat food secretly, it tastes better than anything! So come and enjoy my meal!’
18 But those foolish people do not realize that her home is a place for dead people. Her visitors are already in their graves.
The Proverbs of Solomon[e]
10 These are the proverbs of Solomon.
A wise child makes his father happy.
But a foolish child causes his mother to be sad.
2 If you are not honest, your money will not help you.
But if you are righteous, it will save you from death.
3 The Lord will not let righteous people be hungry.
But he will not let bad people get what they want.
4 If a man is lazy, he will soon be poor.
But if he works hard, he will become rich.
5 A wise man cuts his crops at harvest time and he stores them.
But anyone who does no work at harvest time brings shame.
6 God blesses righteous people.
But the words of wicked people hide their anger.
7 It is a pleasure to remember righteous people.
But when wicked people die, people soon forget their name.
8 Wise people accept good teaching.
But people who talk in a foolish way destroy themselves.
9 If people are honest, their lives are safe.
But those who are not honest will receive punishment.
10 Someone who deceives his friends causes trouble.
And someone who speaks in foolish ways will destroy himself.
11 The teaching of righteous people gives life, like a spring of water.
But the words of wicked people hide their anger.
12 When people hate others, it causes arguments.
But love covers over all sins.
13 People who understand what is right speak wise words.
But silly people receive the punishment that they deserve.
14 Wise people store knowledge in their minds.
But when foolish people speak, trouble is near.
15 Money keeps rich people safe, like a strong city.
But poor people die because they have no one to help them.
16 Righteous people receive life as their wages.[f]
Wicked people receive only punishment.
17 People who listen when people warn them are on the road to life.
But those who refuse to listen are on a different road.
18 If you hate somebody but you try to hide it, you are telling lies.
And if you say false things about other people, you are a fool.
19 If you talk too much, you will soon do something wrong.
But if you are wise, you will stop talking.
20 The words of righteous people are as valuable as the best silver.
But the thoughts of wicked people are useless.
21 The teaching of righteous people will help many people.
But foolish people die because they are so stupid.
22 If the Lord blesses you, you are really rich.
Hard work will not make you any richer.
23 A foolish person is happy when he does wicked things.
But a wise person enjoys doing things that are right.
24 The trouble that wicked people are afraid of will certainly happen to them.
But righteous people will receive the things that they want.
25 When the storm has finished, wicked people are no longer there.
But righteous people are still standing safely.
26 Do not send a lazy person with a message.
He will bring you pain, like the taste of bitter wine,
or like smoke in your eyes.
27 If you respect and obey the Lord, you will live longer.
But wicked people will die before they are old.
28 What good people hope to receive causes them to be happy.
But wicked people never receive what they hope for.
29 The Lord keeps honest people safe.
But he punishes people who do wrong things.
30 Righteous people will always have a safe place to live.
But wicked people will not continue to live in the land.
31 Righteous people speak wise words.
But those who speak evil things will lose their tongues!
32 Righteous people say kind things.
But wicked people say things that hurt others.
11 The Lord hates traders who do not use true weights.
He is happy when they are honest and they use true weights.
2 If people are proud, they will soon become ashamed.
But if people are humble, they become wise.
3 Good people are honest, and that shows them the right way to live.
But wicked people are not honest, and that destroys them.
4 When it is time for God to punish you, money will not help you to escape.
But if you are righteous, that will save you from death.
5 An honest man who is righteous has a straight path to walk on.
But the sins of a wicked person will cause him to fall down.
6 When honest people are righteous, that will keep them safe.
But the bad things that wicked people want will catch them in a trap.
7 When a wicked person dies, he has no hope for anything good.
Everything that he hoped his strength would give him disappears!
8 Righteous people escape from trouble.
The trouble happens to wicked people instead.
9 People who do not respect God say things that destroy their friends.
But the knowledge that righteous people have keeps them safe.
10 When righteous people do well, everyone in the city is happy.
And people shout with joy when wicked people die.
11 A city becomes great when honest men bring God's blessing to it.
But when wicked people give bad advice, they will destroy the city.
12 When someone insults his neighbour, it shows that he is foolish.
But a wise person stays quiet.
13 If a person talks too much about other people, he will soon tell their secrets.
But someone that you can trust will not tell your secrets to other people.
14 A nation will fall if it has no wise leaders.
But it will do well if there are people who give good advice.
15 If you promise to pay a stranger's debt, you will be sorry.
You will be safe if you do not agree to do that.
16 A kind woman receives honour,
but cruel men only get riches for themselves.
17 A faithful person helps himself with good things,
but a cruel person brings trouble on himself.
18 A wicked person gets riches that soon disappear.
But someone who lives in a good way will surely receive good things.
19 If someone continues to do what is right, he will live.
But if someone loves to do evil things, he will die.
20 The Lord hates people who have wrong thoughts.
But he is pleased with people who live in an honest way.
21 Be sure about this: Evil people will receive the punishment that they deserve.
But people who are righteous will escape.
22 A beautiful woman who turns away from wisdom
is like a gold ring in a pig's nose.
23 Righteous people want good things to happen.
Wicked people only hope to cause anger.
24 Somebody may share his things with other people,
but he still becomes richer.
Somebody else may keep the things that he should give to others,
but he still becomes poor.
25 If you help other people with your money, you will do well.
If you give water to thirsty people, you will not be thirsty yourself.
26 If you refuse to sell food to hungry people, they will curse you.
But if you sell it to them, they will praise you.
27 If you try to do good things, people will respect you.
But if you want evil things to happen, they will happen to you!
28 If somebody trusts his riches to keep him safe,
he will fall like a leaf that falls from a tree.
But a righteous person will grow strong,
like a fresh green leaf.
29 Anyone who causes trouble for his family will not receive any good thing from them.
A foolish person like that will become the servant of a wise person.
30 The good things that a righteous person does bring life.
A person who saves people's lives shows that he is wise.
31 Righteous people receive what they deserve, here on this earth.
So you can be sure that cruel and wicked people will receive their punishment.
12 Do you want to know the right way to live?
Then you must accept it when people warn you that you have done something wrong.
Only stupid people hate it when people warn them.
2 The Lord helps good people.
But he punishes people who want to do evil things.
3 No one can use wicked things to make himself safe.
But a righteous person has strong roots.
4 A good wife will bring honour to her husband, like a crown.
But a wife who brings shame to her husband will take away his strength.
5 Righteous people want to do things that are right.
But do not trust the advice of wicked people.
6 The words of wicked people are like a trap that will kill good people.
But the words of honest people will save people's lives.
7 Wicked people soon come to an end and they disappear.
But the families of righteous people will continue to be strong.
8 People will praise a wise person, as much as his wisdom deserves.
But no one will respect a person who is stupid.
9 It is better to be a humble person who has a servant
than a proud person who has no food to eat.
10 Righteous people take care of their animals.
But wicked people are cruel even when they think they are kind.
11 A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat.
But anyone who works only on useless things is foolish.
12 Wicked people want to take the things that other bad people have.
But righteous people remain strong, with deep roots.
13 The lies of evil people put them in trouble.
But righteous people escape from trouble.
14 If you say good things, you will receive good things that make you happy.
You will receive what you deserve from the things that you do.
15 Foolish people always do what seems right to them.
But wise people listen to advice from others.
16 When a fool becomes angry, everybody knows it!
But a careful person keeps quiet when someone insults him.
17 Honest people speak the truth in court.
But a person who tells lies never says what is true.
18 If you speak in a careless way, you may hurt other people.
But when wise people speak, it makes people feel well.
19 True words continue to be true for ever.
But people quickly see that lies are lies.
20 Someone who wants to cause trouble has a mind that is full of lies.
But someone who wants to bring peace has a mind that is full of joy.
21 Trouble keeps away from righteous people.
But wicked people have trouble all the time.
22 The Lord hates people who tell lies.
But he is pleased with people who do what they promise to do.
23 Careful people keep quiet about how much they know.
But foolish people show everyone how silly they are.
24 If you work hard, you will become a leader.
But if you are lazy, you will become a slave.
25 If you worry all the time, it will make you sad.
But kind words will make you happy.
26 A righteous person gives good advice to his friends.
But wicked people are always taking the wrong path.
27 A lazy person does not cook the animals that he has caught.
But if you work hard, you will enjoy many valuable things.
28 If you do what is right, you will find true life.
Along that path, there is no death.
13 A wise son listens to his father's teaching.
But if you tell a proud person that he is wrong, he will not listen.
2 If you say kind words, you will eat good things.
But wicked people only want to be cruel.
3 Someone who thinks before he speaks will keep his life safe.
But someone who talks too much will destroy himself.
4 A lazy person always wants to have more, but he will not get it.
If a person works hard, he will have more than he needs.
5 Honest people hate anything that is false.
But wicked people do things that bring them shame.
6 When honest people do what is right, it keeps them safe.
But when sinners do evil things, it destroys them.
7 Somebody who has nothing may still pretend to be rich.
Somebody else may pretend to be poor, but he is very rich.
8 A rich person may have to use his money to save his life.
But poor people do not have that problem.
9 Righteous people have joy that shines like a bright light.
But wicked people have a light that will quickly go out.
10 A person who boasts only causes trouble.
But if you accept good advice, it shows that you are wise.
11 If you try to get money quickly, you will not stay rich for long.
But if you are patient, you will become rich little by little.
12 When you do not receive the things that you hope for, it makes you sad.
But when you receive what you have always wanted, you are very happy.
13 If you do not accept good teaching, you will destroy yourself.
If you accept good advice, it will help you to do well.
14 The teaching of wise people is like a spring of water that gives life.
It will keep you away from death's dangerous traps.
15 People respect a person who has wise thoughts.
But the way that wicked people live destroys them.
16 Careful people need to understand what they are doing.
But a fool quickly shows how foolish he is.
17 If you send a message with a wicked person, he will cause trouble.
But if you send someone that you can trust, he will bring peace.
18 Anyone who turns away from good teaching will become poor and ashamed.
But if you accept advice when you do something wrong, people will respect you.
19 It is very nice to receive the things that you want.
But foolish people refuse to stop doing evil things.
20 If you have wise people as your friends, you will become wise yourself.
But if you have foolish friends, you will hurt yourself.
21 Trouble chases sinners and it catches them.
But righteous people will receive good things.
22 When a good person dies, he leaves good things for his grandchildren.
But a sinner's riches will belong to righteous people in the end.
23 Even a poor man's field may give him enough food.
But he loses it because wicked people rob him.
24 If you do not punish your child, you show that you hate him.
If you really love your child, you will punish him when he does something wrong.
25 Righteous people have plenty of food to eat.
But wicked people have an empty stomach.
14 Every wise woman makes her home strong.
But a foolish woman destroys her home with her own hands.
2 An honest person respects and obeys the Lord.
But anyone who deceives other people shows that he does not respect the Lord.
3 When fools boast, they bring punishment on themselves.
But the words of wise people keep them safe.
4 When a farmer has no oxen to plough his fields,
he does not have to feed them.
But he needs strong oxen to grow plenty of crops.
5 A faithful person will not tell lies in court.
But someone who says false things, always deceives.
6 If you only pretend that you want wisdom, you will not find it.
But if you are careful, you will easily understand what is right.
7 Stay away from foolish people.
They will stop you from learning anything that is wise.
8 A careful person understands what is right and he does it.
But a foolish person's silly thoughts deceive him.
9 Fools think that they do not need to do anything about their sins.
But God is pleased with people who do what is right.
10 When you are upset, you yourself know how sad you are.
No one else can know what you are feeling, sad or happy.
11 A wicked person's home will come to an end.
But the home of a good person will continue to be strong.
12 You may think that you are on a good, straight road.
But in the end, that road may lead you to death.
13 Somebody may be upset, even when he is laughing.
After his joy has gone, he will still be sad.
14 If someone turns away from what is right,
he will receive the punishment that he deserves.
But good people will receive the good things that they deserve.
15 A silly person will believe anything.
But a careful person will think before he does anything.
16 A wise person is careful to keep away from trouble.
But a fool is careless and he thinks that he is always right.
17 A person who quickly becomes angry does silly things.
And people hate anyone with cruel ideas.
18 Silly people do foolish things, and they receive what they deserve.
But wise people receive honour for their knowledge.
19 Evil people will respect good people.
Wicked people will ask righteous people to be kind to them.
20 Even the neighbours of poor people do not like them.
But rich people have many friends.
21 It is a sin if you do not respect your neighbour.
But if you are kind to helpless people, God will bless you.
22 People who want to do evil things have lost their way.
But those who want to do good things show faithful love.
23 If you work hard, something good will come.
But if you only talk about it, you will become poor.
24 For wise people, their riches are like a crown of honour.
But fools only work to get foolish things.
25 Someone who speaks the truth in court may save a life.
But someone who always tells lies deceives everyone.
26 Someone who respects and obeys the Lord knows that he will be safe.
His family also will be in a safe place.
27 If you respect and obey the Lord,
that is like a spring of water that gives you life.
It will keep you safe from death's traps.
28 A king who rules many people will receive great honour.
But a ruler with only a few people will have nothing in the end.
29 A patient man shows that he understands what is right.
But someone who quickly becomes angry shows that he is foolish.
30 If you have peace in your mind, your body will be healthy.
But if you are jealous, it will eat away your body.
31 If you are cruel to poor people,
you are insulting God who created them.
But if you are kind to helpless people,
it shows that you respect God.
32 When wicked people are in trouble, they cannot stand.
But righteous people still trust God,
even when they are in danger of death.
33 People who understand what is right have true wisdom.
Even fools may sometimes show wisdom.[g]
34 A nation will receive honour when its people do what is right.
But sin will bring shame on its people.
35 A king will be pleased with a wise servant.
But he will be angry with any servant who brings shame.
15 If you answer people in a kind way, it stops them being angry.
But if you say cruel things, it makes people angry.
2 When wise people speak, they show that knowledge is good.
But when fools speak, they only say foolish things.
3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere.
He is watching what evil people do, and good people too.
4 Kind words are like the fruit of a tree that gives life.
But words that are not honest make people sad and weak.
5 A fool hates his father's rules.
But a wise child learns when his father warns him.
6 Righteous people have many valuable things in their homes.
But the riches of wicked people bring trouble to them.
7 When wise people speak, they give knowledge,
but the minds of fools have nothing to give.
8 When wicked people offer sacrifices to the Lord, he hates it.
But he is pleased when good people pray to him.
9 The Lord hates the way that wicked people live.
But he loves people who want to do what is right.
10 If you leave God's way, you will receive strong punishment.
When people warn you, accept it or you will die.
11 The Lord sees clearly into the deep hole of death.
So you can be sure that he knows people's secret thoughts.
12 Proud people do not like it when someone warns them.
They will not ask wise people to give them advice.
13 When someone is happy, their face smiles.
But when someone is sad, their spirit hurts.
14 Wise people want to learn more.
But fools only want to know useless things.
15 Every day is difficult, if you have trouble in your mind.
But if you are happy, every day is like a feast.
16 You may be poor, but you respect and obey the Lord.
That is better than if you are very rich, but you have a lot of trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with people who love each other
than to eat good meat with people who hate each other.
18 Angry people bring quarrels,
but patient people bring peace.
19 A lazy person always has problems,
as if he is walking through thorn bushes.
But an honest person walks on a straight road through life.
20 A wise child makes his father happy.
But a foolish person does not respect his mother.
21 Stupid people are happy when they do foolish things.
But wise people walk on a straight path.
22 Without good advice, your ideas will never happen.
But you will do well if you have many advisors.
23 It makes you happy when you give a good answer to a question.
It is good when you find the right thing to say at the right time.
24 A wise person walks on a path that leads him up to a long life.
He keeps away from the path that would lead him down to death.
25 The Lord destroys the homes of proud men.
But he keeps the land of widows safe.
26 The Lord hates the thoughts of wicked people.
But kind words please him.
27 Anyone who cheats people to become rich
will cause trouble for his family.
But anyone who refuses to accept bribes
will live safely.
28 Righteous people think carefully before they answer someone.
But when wicked people speak, the result is only trouble.
29 The Lord does not answer the prayers of wicked people.
But when righteous people pray, he listens.
30 If someone smiles at you, it makes you happy.
Good news makes you feel strong.
31 If anyone accepts teaching that helps him to live in a good way,
he becomes a friend of wise people.
32 If you refuse to accept it when people warn you,
you are hurting yourself.
But if you agree to listen,
you will learn to do what is right.
33 If you respect and obey the Lord,
that will teach you wisdom.
If you want to receive honour,
first learn to be humble.
16 People make plans in their minds,
but the Lord gives them the right words to say.
2 You may think that everything you do is right,
but the Lord knows exactly why you are doing it.
3 Put your plans in front of the Lord,
so that what you want to do will go well.
4 The Lord causes everything to have its proper result.
Even wicked people will come to bad trouble in the end.
5 The Lord hates everyone who boasts.
Be sure of this: They will receive the punishment that they deserve.
6 If you love the Lord faithfully,
he will forgive your sins.
If you respect and obey him,
you will not do evil things.
7 If you live in a way that pleases the Lord,
even your enemies will become your friends.
8 If you do what is right but you are not rich,
that is better than to be rich because you cheat people.
9 People make plans for what they will do,
but it is the Lord who leads them in the right way.
10 A king speaks with God's authority.
He must judge people in a fair way.
11 The Lord wants people to use true weights and measures.
He knows all the weights that a trader uses.
12 Kings hate all wicked acts,
because justice makes their government strong.
13 Kings are happy to hear honest advice.
They love people who speak true words.
14 Someone may die if the king becomes angry with him.
So a wise person will try to stop the king's anger.
15 If the king smiles at you, your life will go well.
If he is pleased with you, that is like a cloud which gives rain in the spring.
16 It is better to have wisdom than gold or silver.
You should want to understand what is right.
17 Honest people follow a straight road that keeps them away from evil things.
If you want to keep your life safe, watch where you are going.
18 If you are proud, you will soon come to an end.
Anyone who boasts will soon fall down.
19 You may be humble and have poor people as your friends.
But that is better than if you have proud friends
who give you things that they have robbed from others.
20 If you listen carefully to good teaching, you will do well.
If you trust in the Lord, you are in a happy place.
21 If you have wise thoughts,
people will say that you know what is right.
If you speak kind words,
people will accept your teaching.
22 Wisdom is like a spring of fresh water that gives life to those who have it.
But the silly things that fools do brings them punishment.
23 Wise people think carefully and they speak wise words.
Then other people will accept their teaching.
24 Kind words are as sweet as honey.
They also bring health and strength.
25 You may think that you are on a good, straight road.
But in the end, that road may lead you to death.
26 When a worker feels hungry, it causes him to work more.
So it helps him to get food to eat.
27 Wicked people look for ways to hurt other people.
The cruel things that they say are like flames of fire.
28 People who tell lies cause arguments.
If you tell people's secrets, you will lose all your friends.
29 Violent people deceive their friends.
They lead their friends to do wrong things.
30 If someone sends secret messages with his eyes,
he has a plan to hurt someone.
If he squeezes his lips together,
he is ready to do an evil thing.
31 Grey hair is like a beautiful crown on your head!
People who live in a righteous way may wear it.
32 A person who is patient is better than a brave soldier.
If you can control your anger, you can win any battle.
33 People throw dice to choose what is right.
But it is the Lord who decides the answer.
17 It is better to eat a piece of dry bread in a quiet place,
than to eat a big feast in a house full of arguments.
2 A slave who is wise will have authority over a son who does stupid things.
When his master dies, that slave will receive some of his valuable things.
3 You need a hot fire to make silver and gold become pure.
It is the Lord who does that for people,
to show what they are really like.
4 People who do evil things listen to evil advice.
People who tell lies listen to other people's lies.
5 If you laugh at poor people,
you are insulting God, who made them.
If you are happy when trouble happens to other people,
you will receive the punishment that you deserve.
6 Old people should be proud of their grandchildren.
In the same way, children should be proud of their parents.
7 It does not seem right when a fool says clever things.
It is certainly not right when a ruler tells lies.
8 Somebody who offers a bribe thinks that it will work like magic.
It will help him to do whatever he wants to do.
9 If you forgive people when they hurt you,
they will still love you.
But if you continue to talk about what they have done,
they will no longer be your friends.
10 You can warn a wise person once and he will learn what is right.
But a fool never learns, even if you hit him a hundred times.
11 An evil person never obeys authority,
so a cruel messenger will come to punish him.
12 Do not go near a fool who is doing stupid things.
It would be safer to meet a mother bear who has lost her babies.
13 If people are kind to you, do not do evil things in return.
Anyone who does that will always have trouble in his home.
14 It is difficult to stop a quarrel once it has started.
It is like water that pours out of a broken pot. Stop it quickly!
15 If a judge says that a guilty person is not guilty,
the Lord hates it.
If a judge punishes someone who is not guilty,
the Lord hates that too.
16 Money does not help a foolish person,
because he does not want to become wise.
17 A friend will always show that he loves you.
Relatives are there to help you when you are in trouble.
18 Only a stupid person promises to pay someone else's debts,
even if he is a friend or a neighbour.
19 Someone who loves to argue loves sin.
Someone who boasts causes trouble for himself.
20 Anyone who thinks about bad things will not do well in life.
Anyone who deceives people with lies will have a lot of trouble.
21 To have a foolish son makes parents sad.
The father of a fool is never happy.
22 If you are happy in life, you will be healthy.
But if you are sad and upset, your body will be weak.
23 Wicked judges secretly accept bribes.
Then they are not fair when they judge.
24 A person who knows what is right can easily find wisdom.
But a foolish person looks everywhere and never finds it.
25 To have a foolish son makes his father sad.
It makes his mother very upset.
26 It is not right to punish a person who has done nothing wrong.
It is wrong to beat honest people with sticks.
27 A wise person does not talk too much.
Anyone who keeps quiet shows that he understands things.
28 Even a fool seems to be wise if he keeps quiet.
If he keeps his mouth shut, people will think that he is clever.
18 People who do not have any friends think only about themselves.
They refuse to listen to good advice.
2 A fool does not try to understand what is right.
He only likes to tell people his own ideas.
3 When a wicked person arrives, shame comes with him.
And shame causes people to speak against you.
4 The words that you speak are like the deep water of the sea.
If they are wise words, they are like a cool stream.
5 Do not refuse to punish wicked people. That would not be good.
Also, do not punish anyone who has not done anything wrong.
6 When a fool speaks, he starts an argument.
He is asking for someone to beat him with a stick.
7 When a fool speaks, he is destroying himself.
His own words are a trap that catches him.
8 We love to hear other people's secrets.
They seem like good food that we can enjoy.
9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower.
Righteous people can run there, and then they will be safe.
11 Rich people think that their money makes them safe,
like high, strong walls round a city.
12 If you become proud, something will soon destroy you.
But if you are humble, you will soon receive honour.
13 Listen carefully before you answer.
If you answer too quickly, you will be ashamed like a fool.
14 When someone is ill, his spirit will keep him strong.
But if his spirit has lost hope, he cannot stay strong.
15 Wise people are always learning something new.
16 A gift will give you a chance to meet new people.
Important people may become your friends.
17 You will always believe the first person to speak in court,
until the other person starts to ask him questions.
18 If two powerful people have an argument,
you may have to throw dice to decide who is right.
19 If you insult a relative,
it will be difficult to become friends with him again.
Arguments keep people apart,
like the walls of a strong city.
20 If you speak words that help people,
they are like good food.
21 Words have the power to bring life or death.
So be careful if you talk a lot!
22 If you find a wife, you find a good thing.
The Lord has given you something to enjoy.
23 A poor person has to ask for help.
But a rich person can insult people.
24 A man with many friends may lose them.
But there is a friend who is more faithful than a brother.
19 It is better to be poor and honest,
than to be a fool who speaks lies.
2 If you want to do something but you do not know how to do it,
that is dangerous!
If you hurry to do it, you will get into trouble.
3 Some people do silly things and so they destroy themselves.
Then they get angry with the Lord.
4 Rich people can easily find new friends.
But poor people will easily lose their friends.
5 If you tell lies in court, the judge will certainly punish you.
You will not go free!
6 Many people want an important person to like them.
Everyone wants to be the friend of someone who gives lots of gifts.
7 If someone is poor, all his family hate him.
His friends stay away from him.
Even if he goes to ask them for help,
he cannot find them anywhere.
8 If you learn to be wise,
it shows that you love yourself.
If you understand what is right,
you will do well.
9 If you tell lies in court, the judge will certainly punish you.
That will be the end of you!
10 Fools should not live like rich people.
Even worse, slaves should never have authority over rulers.
11 If someone is wise, he controls his anger.
When anyone hurts him, he is careful to forget it.
12 When the king is angry, he makes people afraid,
like a lion that roars.
But when he is pleased with you,
that is like dew on fresh grass.
13 A foolish child will destroy his father.
A woman who quarrels with her husband is like rain that never stops.
14 Your parents may give you riches and a house to live in.
But only the Lord can give you a wise wife.
15 A lazy person cannot wake up from sleep.
If he does no work, he will always be hungry.
16 If you obey God's commands, you will keep your life safe.
If you do not respect his teaching, you will die.
17 If you are kind to poor people, you are lending money to the Lord.
He will pay back the debt to you.
18 When your children do wrong things,
warn them while you still have the chance.
If you do not punish them,
you are helping them to go to an early death.
19 Anyone who cannot control his anger is always getting into trouble.
If you try to help him once, you will have to do it every time.
20 Accept advice and good teaching.
Then you will become wise one day.
21 You may have lots of ideas about what you want to do.
But it is the Lord's plans that are important.
22 We all want other people to show faithful love.
It is better to be poor than to deceive other people.
23 If you respect and obey the Lord,
you will enjoy life.
You will have peace in your mind
and no trouble will destroy you.
24 A lazy person pushes his hand into his bowl of food.
But then he is too lazy to lift his hand up to his mouth.
25 If you beat a proud fool,
a silly person may learn to be careful.
If you warn a wise person,
he himself will learn a lesson.
26 Anyone who robs his father or chases away his mother
is a bad son who brings shame to his family.
27 My child, never stop learning about what is right.
If you stop learning, you will soon forget what you already know.
28 If someone tells lies in court, he is laughing at justice.
Evil things are food that wicked people love to eat.
29 People who laugh at what is right will receive their punishment.
Fools will be beaten, as they deserve.
20 If you drink too much wine or strong drink,
you do stupid things and you fight.
It is not wise to become drunk.
2 When the king is angry, he is as dangerous as a lion that roars.
If you make him angry, you will lose your life.
3 If you keep away from arguments, you will receive honour.
Only fools love to quarrel.
4 A lazy farmer does not plough his fields in winter.
As a result, he has nothing to eat when harvest time arrives.
5 A person's thoughts are like deep waters.
But a wise person can bring them into the open.
6 Many people say that you can trust them.
But it is difficult to find a truly faithful person.
7 Righteous people live in an honest way.
Their children will also be happy.
8 When a king sits on his throne as judge,
he sees what is evil and he removes it.
9 Nobody can say, ‘My thoughts are completely pure.
There is no sin in me.’
10 If people use false weights and measures,
the Lord hates anything like that.
11 Even children show what they are like by the things that they do.
You can see if they are honest and good.
12 The Lord has made us with ears to hear with and eyes to see with.
They are both his gift to us.
13 If you love to sleep too much, you will become poor.
Keep awake so that you have food on the table!
14 When somebody is buying something, he says, ‘It is worth nothing!’
But later he boasts about the cheap price!
15 Words that help you to learn things are very valuable.
They are more valuable than gold or jewels.
16 If someone promises to pay the debts of a stranger,
take his coat as a guarantee that he will pay.
17 If you cheat someone to get food to eat,
it may seem good when you taste it.
But soon it will be like sand in your mouth.
18 Things will go well if you receive good advice.
If you want to fight a war, ask wise people to be your advisors.
19 Keep away from people who talk too much.
They will tell everybody about your secrets.
20 If you insult your parents, your life will quickly finish,
like a lamp that suddenly goes out
and leaves you in complete darkness.
21 If you receive riches too early in life,
it will do you no good in the end.
EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 - Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved.