Chronological
16 The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).(A)
3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.
4 The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose—even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil.
5 Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished.(B)
6 By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man—not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid 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 (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice.(C)
9 A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.(D)
10 Divinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work [established on His eternal principles].
12 It is an abomination [to God and men] for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established and made secure by righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).
13 Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is 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 bringing the spring rain.
16 How much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(E)
17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who deals wisely and heeds [God’s] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.
21 The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning [in both speaker and listener].
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to those who have it, but to give instruction to fools is folly.
23 The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.
26 The appetite of the laborer works for him, for [the need of] his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless man devises and digs up mischief, and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.(F)
29 The exceedingly grasping, covetous, and violent man entices his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.
30 He who shuts his eyes to devise perverse things and who compresses his lips [as if in concealment] brings evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of beauty and glory if it is found in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).(G)
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].
17 Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting [on offered sacrifices] with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall share in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts.(H)
4 An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips; and a liar listens to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent or go unpunished.(I)
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.(J)
7 Fine or arrogant speech does not befit [an empty-headed] fool—much less do lying lips befit a prince.
8 A bribe is like a bright, precious stone that dazzles the eyes and affects the mind of him who gives it; [as if by magic] he prospers, whichever way he turns.
9 He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.
10 A reproof enters deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a [self-confident] fool.(K)
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a stern and pitiless messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let [the brute ferocity of] a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a [self-confident] fool in his folly [when he is in a rage].(L)
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.(M)
14 The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination [exceedingly disgusting and hateful] to the Lord.(N)
16 Of what use is money in the hand of a [self-confident] fool to buy skillful and godly Wisdom—when he has no understanding or heart for it?
17 A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.
18 A man void of good sense gives a pledge and becomes security for another in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who loves strife and is quarrelsome loves transgression and involves himself in guilt; he who raises high his gateway and is boastful and arrogant invites destruction.
20 He who has a wayward and crooked mind finds no good, and he who has a willful and contrary tongue will fall into calamity.(O)
21 He who becomes the parent of a [self-confident] fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of [an empty-headed] fool has no joy [in him].
22 A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.(P)
23 A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom (pocket) to pervert the ways of justice.
24 A man of understanding sets skillful and godly Wisdom before his face, but the eyes of a [self-confident] fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A self-confident and foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also, to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit.(Q)
28 Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.
18 He who willfully separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.
2 A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.
3 When the wicked comes in [to the depth of evil], he becomes a contemptuous despiser [of all that is pure and good], and with inner baseness comes outer shame and reproach.
4 The words of a [discreet and wise] man’s mouth are like deep waters [plenteous and difficult to fathom], and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
5 To respect the person of the wicked and be partial to him, so as to deprive the [consistently] righteous of justice, is not good.
6 A [self-confident] fool’s lips bring contention, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A [self-confident] fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.
8 The words of a whisperer or talebearer are as dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9 He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and [a]he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit.
12 Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.(R)
14 The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?
15 The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.(S)
17 He who states his case first seems right, until his rival comes and cross-examines him.
18 To cast lots puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won over than a strong city, and [their] contentions separate them like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].(T)
22 He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.(U)
23 The poor man uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.
24 The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation