Bible in 90 Days
Beware of the Adulteress
7 My son, keep my words,
and lay up my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live,
and my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call understanding your kinswoman,
5 that they may keep you from the immoral woman,
from the seductress who flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my casement,
7 and saw among the simple ones,
I discerned among the youths,
a young man void of understanding,
8 passing through the street near her corner;
and he went the way to her house
9 in the twilight, in the evening,
in the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 She is loud and stubborn;
her feet do not abide in her house.
12 Now she is without, now in the streets,
and lies in wait at every corner.
13 So she caught him, and kissed him;
and with an impudent face said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
this day have I paid my vows.
15 Therefore I came out to meet you,
diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,
with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning;
let us solace ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
20 he has taken a bag of money with him,
and will come home at the day appointed.”
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
with the flattering of her lips she seduced him.
22 He went after her straightway,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 until a dart struck through his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
he did not know that it would cost him his life.
24 Listen to me now therefore, O children,
and attend to the words of my mouth:
25 do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
do not go astray in her paths;
26 for she has cast down many wounded,
and many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
The Virtue of Wisdom
8 Does not wisdom cry out,
and understanding lift up her voice?
2 She stands on the top of high places,
by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She cries out at the gates,
at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you simple, understand wisdom,
and you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Hear, for I will speak of excellent things,
and from the opening of my lips will be right things;
7 for my mouth will speak truth,
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 for wisdom is better than rubies,
and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
pride and arrogance
and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule,
and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me early will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
yes, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold,
yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness,
in the midst of the paths of justice,
21 that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
and I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way,
before His works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills I was brought forth;
26 while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
or the first dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
when He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when He established the clouds above,
when He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 when He gave to the sea His decree,
that the waters should not pass His commandment,
when He appointed the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him;
and I was daily His delight,
rejoicing always before Him,
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth,
and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore listen to me, O you children,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise,
and do not refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
and will obtain favor of the Lord;
36 but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
all those who hate me love death.”
The Way of Wisdom
9 Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 she has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine,
she has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
she cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
As for him who wants understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread,
and drink of the wine which I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
and go in the way of understanding.”
7 He who reproves a scorner gets shame for himself,
and he who rebukes a wicked man gets hurt.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you;
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser;
teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and the years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you will be wise for yourself,
but if you scorn, you alone will bear it.
The Way of Foolishness
13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call those who pass by
who go right on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
and that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
The Proverbs of Solomon
10 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish,
but He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4 He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the just,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the just is blessed,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments,
but a prating fool will fall.
9 He who walks uprightly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes sorrow,
but a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all sins.
13 In the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous tends to life,
the fruit of the wicked to sin.
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
but he who refuses reproof errs.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips,
and he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
but he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and He adds no sorrow with it.
23 To do mischief is like sport to a fool,
but a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more,
but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright,
but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked speaks what is perverse.
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
but the perverseness of transgressors will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the upright will direct his way,
but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
but transgressors will be taken by their schemes.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked comes in his place.
9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the just will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He who puts up a pledge for a stranger will suffer for it,
and he who hates being a pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
but ruthless men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own body.
18 The wicked works a deceitful work,
but to him who sows righteousness will be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tends to life,
so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are abomination to the Lord,
but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
21 Though be assured, the wicked will not be unpunished,
but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout,
so is a fair woman who is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases;
and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
and he who waters will be watered also himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
but blessing will be upon the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good procures favor,
but he who seeks mischief, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish as a branch.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous will be recompensed in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner.
12 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtains favor of the Lord,
but a man of wicked devices will He condemn.
3 A man will not be established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but she who brings shame is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9 He who is lightly esteemed and has a servant is better
than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked covet the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips,
but the just will come out of trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but he who listens to counsel is wise.
16 A fool’s wrath is presently known,
but a prudent man covers shame.
17 He who speaks truth shows forth righteousness,
but a false witness deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The truthful lip will be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who imagine evil,
but to the counselors of peace is joy.
21 There will no evil happen to the just,
but the wicked will be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord,
but those who deal truly are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man makes it droop,
but a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbors,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The slothful man does not roast that which he took in hunting,
but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 A man will eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
but the soul of the transgressor will eat violence.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
but he who opens wide his lips will have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing;
but the soul of the diligent will be made fat.
5 A righteous man hates lying,
but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
6 Righteousness keeps him who is upright in the way,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
there is one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
but the poor does not hear rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 Only by pride comes contention,
but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained by vanity will be diminished,
but he who gathers by labor will increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,
but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding gives favor,
but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge,
but a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief,
but a faithful envoy is health.
18 Poverty and shame will be to him who refuses instruction,
but he who regards reproof will be honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
but a companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 Evil pursues sinners,
but to the righteous good will be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor,
but for lack of justice it is destroyed.
24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
but he who loves him disciplines him early.
25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
but the stomach of the wicked will want.
14 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;
but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie,
but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeks wisdom and does not find it,
but knowledge is easy to him who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools make a mock at sin,
but among the righteous there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful,
and the end of that cheer is grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
but a good man will be satisfied with his.
15 The simple believes every word,
but the prudent man considers his steps.
16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
but the fool rages and is self-confident.
17 He who is quick-tempered deals foolishly,
and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err who devise evil?
But mercy and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivers souls,
but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence,
and His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is a king’s honor,
but in the lack of people is the destruction of a prince.
29 He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding,
but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh,
but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
but he who honors Him has mercy on the poor.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness,
but the righteous has hope in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
but his wrath is against him who causes shame.
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright,
but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s instruction,
but he who regards reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
but the heart of the foolish does not do so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord,
but He loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 Correction is grievous to him who forsakes the way,
and he who hates reproof will die.
11 Death and destruction are before the Lord;
so how much more the hearts of the children of men.
12 A scorner does not love one who reproves him,
nor will he go to the wise.
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fatted calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns,
but the way of the righteous is made plain.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of wisdom,
but a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22 Without counsel, purposes are disappointed,
but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
24 The way of life leads above for the wise,
that he may depart from Sheol below.
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
but He will establish the border of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
27 He who is greedy of gain troubles his own house,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and a good report makes the bones healthy.
31 The ear that hears the reproof of life
abides among the wise.
32 He who refuses instruction despises his own soul,
but he who hears reproof gains understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
and before honor is humility.
16 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
and your thoughts will be established.
4 The Lord has made all things for Himself,
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged;
and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s heart devises his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king;
his mouth does not transgress in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance belong to the Lord;
all the weights of the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
and they love him who speaks right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life,
and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
he who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who handles a matter wisely will find good,
and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
26 He who labors, labors for himself,
for his mouth craves it of him.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
and a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
and leads him into the way that is not good.
30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things;
moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
31 The gray-haired head is a crown of glory,
if it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the whole outcome is of the Lord.
17 Better is a dry morsel with quietness
than a house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 A wise servant will have rule over a son who causes shame,
and will have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tries the hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips,
and a liar gives ear to a wayward tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker,
and he who is glad at calamities will not be unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it;
wherever he turns, it prospers.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates friends.
10 A reproof enters deeper into a wise man
than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water;
therefore abandon contention before a quarrel starts.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
both of them are abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
seeing he has no heart for it?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding shakes hands,
and becomes a pledge in the presence of his friend.
19 He loves transgression who loves strife,
and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,
and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 He who fathers a fool does it to his sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine,
but a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a bribe out of a hidden place
to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good,
nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise;
and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
18 He who separates himself seeks his own desire;
he seeks and quarrels against all wisdom.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
but in expressing his own heart.
3 When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt,
and with dishonor reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters,
and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to favor the wicked,
or to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,
and his mouth calls for flogging.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is slothful in his work
is brother to him who is a great waster.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and as a high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
and before honor is humility.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
it is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity,
but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him,
and brings him before great men.
17 He who is first in his own cause seems just,
but his neighbor comes and searches him.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease,
and keeps the mighty ones apart.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
and with the increase of his lips will he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of the Lord.
23 The poor man uses entreaties,
but the rich man answers roughly.
24 A man who has friends must show himself friendly,
and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Also, it is not good for the soul to be without knowledge,
and he who hastens with his feet sins.
3 The foolishness of man perverts his way,
and his heart frets against the Lord.
4 Wealth makes many friends,
but the poor is separated from his neighbor.
5 A false witness will not be unpunished,
and he who speaks lies will not escape.
6 Many will entreat the favor of the prince,
and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words,
yet they abandon him.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will find good.
9 A false witness will not be unpunished,
and he who speaks lies will perish.
10 Delight is not seemly for a fool,
much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man defers his anger,
and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father,
and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping of water.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers,
and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul,
but he who is careless in his ways will die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
and He will repay what he has given.
18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
and let not your soul spare for his crying.
19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
for if you deliver him, yet you must do it again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
nevertheless the counsel of the Lord will stand.
22 The desire of a man is his kindness,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord tends to life,
and he who has it will abide satisfied; he will not be visited with evil.
24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bowl,
and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware;
and reprove one who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction
that causes to err from the words of knowledge.
28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners,
and beatings for the back of fools.
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging,
and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife,
but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow because of the cold;
therefore he will beg during harvest and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness,
but who can find a faithful man?
7 The just man walks in his integrity;
his children are blessed after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work is pure and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says the buyer;
but when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of him who is a pledge for a stranger,
and hold it as a security when it is for a wayward woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel,
and with good advice wage war.
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
therefore do not meddle with him who flatters with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gained hastily at the beginning,
but the end of it will not be blessed.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.