Chronological
27 Do not boast of [yourself and] tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth.(A)
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and sand weighty, but a fool’s [unreasoning] wrath is heavier and more intolerable than both of them.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden.(B)
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.
7 He who is satiated [with sensual pleasures] loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who strays from his home.
9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.
10 Your own friend and your father’s friend, forsake them not; neither go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near [in spirit] than a brother who is far off [in heart].
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me [as having failed in my parental duty].(C)
12 A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering].
13 [The judge tells the creditor] Take the garment of one who is security for a stranger; and hold him in pledge when he is security for foreigners.(D)
14 The flatterer who loudly praises and glorifies his neighbor, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted as cursing him [for he will be suspected of sinister purposes].
15 A continual dripping on a day of violent showers and a contentious woman are alike;(E)
16 Whoever attempts to restrain [a contentious woman] might as well try to stop the wind—his right hand encounters oil [and she slips through his fingers].
17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit; so he who patiently and faithfully guards and heeds his master shall be honored.(F)
19 As in water face answers to and reflects face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the place of destruction) are never satisfied; so [the lust of] the eyes of man is never satisfied.(G)
21 As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold [bring forth all the impurities of the metal], so let a man be in his trial of praise [ridding himself of all that is base or insincere; for a man is judged by what he praises and of what he boasts].
22 Even though like grain you should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever; does a crown endure to all generations?
25 When the hay is gone, the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountain are gathered in,
26 The lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats [will furnish you] the price of a field.
27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance of your maids.
28 The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.(H)
2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food [plundering them of their last morsels].(I)
4 Those who forsake the law [of God and man] praise the wicked, but those who keep the law [of God and man] contend with them.(J)
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but they who crave and seek the Lord understand it fully.(K)
6 Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways, though he is rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons and the carousing, self-indulgent, and extravagant shames his father.
8 He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him [to spend] who is kind and generous to the poor.(L)
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law [of God and man], even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting [to God].(M)
10 Whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way, he will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes and conceit, but the poor man who has understanding will find him out.
12 When the [uncompromisingly] righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; but when the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves.
13 He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.(N)
14 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous and charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is [like a wicked one] a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness and unjust gain shall prolong his days.
17 If a man willfully sheds the blood of a person [and keeps the guilt of murder upon his conscience], he is fleeing to the pit (the grave) and hastening to his own destruction; let no man stop him!
18 He who walks uprightly shall be safe, but he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways shall fall in one of them.
19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished.(O)
21 To have respect of persons and to show partiality is not good, neither is it good that man should transgress for a piece of bread.
22 He who has an evil and covetous eye hastens to be rich and knows not that want will come upon him.(P)
23 He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, This is no sin—he is in the same class as [an open, lawless robber and] a destroyer.
25 He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.
26 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.(Q)
27 He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse.(R)
28 When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves; but when they perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become many.(S)
29 He who, being often reproved, hardens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed—and that without remedy.
2 When the [uncompromisingly] righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.
3 Whoever loves skillful and godly Wisdom rejoices his father, but he who associates with harlots wastes his substance.
4 The king by justice establishes the land, but he who exacts gifts and tribute overthrows it.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his own feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous man sings and rejoices.
7 The [consistently] righteous man knows and cares for the rights of the poor, but the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge.(T)
8 Scoffers set a city afire [inflaming the minds of the people], but wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a foolish man, the fool only rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless man, but the upright care for and seek [to save] his life.(U)
11 A [self-confident] fool utters all his anger, but a wise man holds it back and stills it.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together—the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 The king who faithfully judges the poor, his throne shall be established continuously.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left undisciplined brings his mother to shame.
16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall see the fall of the wicked.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.(V)
19 A servant will not be corrected by words alone; for though he understands, he will not answer [the master who mistreats him].
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a [self-confident] fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him expecting the rights of a son afterward.
22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and a man given to anger commits and causes much transgression.
23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor.(W)
24 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life; he falls under the curse [pronounced upon him who knows who the thief is] but discloses nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.
26 Many crave and seek the ruler’s favor, but the wise man [waits] for justice from the Lord.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way [of the Lord] is an abomination to the wicked.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation