Proverbs
1:1The wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. 1:2To have knowledge of wise teaching; to be clear about the words of reason: 1:3To be trained in the ways of wisdom, in righteousness and judging truly and straight behaviour: 1:4To make the simple-minded sharp, and to give the young man knowledge, and serious purpose: 1:5(The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:) 1:6To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words of the wise and their dark sayings. 1:7The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge: but the foolish have no use for wisdom and teaching. 1:8My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother: 1:9For they will be a crown of grace for your head, and chain-ornaments about your neck. 1:10My son, if sinners would take you out of the right way, do not go with them. 1:11If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause; 1:12Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death; 1:13Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth; 1:14Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag: 1:15My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways: 1:16For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life. 1:17Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird: 1:18And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves. 1:19Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners. 1:20Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places; 1:21Her words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town: 1:22How long, you simple ones, will foolish things be dear to you? and pride a delight to the haters of authority? how long will the foolish go on hating knowledge? 1:23Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send the flow of my spirit on you, and make my words clear to you. 1:24Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand; 1:25You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have nothing to do with my sharp words: 1:26So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I will make sport of your fear; 1:27When your fear comes on you like a storm, and your trouble like a rushing wind; when pain and sorrow come on you. 1:28Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching for me early, they will not see me: 1:29For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord: 1:30They had no desire for my teaching, and my words of protest were as nothing to them. 1:31So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full. 1:32For the turning back of the simple from teaching will be the cause of their death, and the peace of the foolish will be their destruction. 1:33But whoever gives ear to me will take his rest safely, living in peace without fear of evil.
2:1My son, if you will take my words to your heart, storing up my laws in your mind; 2:2So that your ear gives attention to wisdom, and your heart is turned to knowledge; 2:3Truly, if you are crying out for good sense, and your request is for knowledge; 2:4If you are looking for her as for silver, and searching for her as for stored-up wealth; 2:5Then the fear of the Lord will be clear to you, and knowledge of God will be yours. 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth come knowledge and reason: 2:7He has salvation stored up for the upright, he is a breastplate to those in whom there is no evil; 2:8He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him. 2:9Then you will have knowledge of righteousness and right acting, and upright behaviour, even of every good way. 2:10For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul; 2:11Wise purposes will be watching over you, and knowledge will keep you; 2:12Giving you salvation from the evil man, from those whose words are false; 2:13Who give up the way of righteousness, to go by dark roads; 2:14Who take pleasure in wrongdoing, and have joy in the evil designs of the sinner; 2:15Whose ways are not straight, and whose footsteps are turned to evil: 2:16To take you out of the power of the strange woman, who says smooth words with her tongue; 2:17Who is false to the husband of her early years, and does not keep the agreement of her God in mind: 2:18For her house is on the way down to death; her footsteps go down to the shades: 2:19Those who go to her do not come back again; their feet do not keep in the ways of life: 2:20So that you may go in the way of good men, and keep in the footsteps of the upright. 2:21For the upright will be living in the land, and the good will have it for their heritage. 2:22But sinners will be cut off from the land, and those whose acts are false will be uprooted.
3:1My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart: 3:2For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace. 3:3Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart; 3:4So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men. 3:5Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. 3:6In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps. 3:7Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil: 3:8This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones. 3:9Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: 3:10So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine. 3:11My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training: 3:12For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain. 3:13Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge. 3:14For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold. 3:15She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her. 3:16Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour. 3:17Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace. 3:18She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her. 3:19The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place. 3:20By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies. 3:21My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes. 3:22So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck. 3:23Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping. 3:24When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you. 3:25Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers: 3:26For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net. 3:27Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 3:28Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time. 3:29Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear. 3:30Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong. 3:31Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example. 3:32For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright. 3:33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright. 3:34He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted. 3:35The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
4:1Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge: 4:2For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me. 4:3For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother. 4:4And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life: 4:5Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth. 4:6Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe. 4:7The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge. 4:8Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love. 4:9She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory. 4:10Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours. 4:11I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way. 4:12When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall. 4:13Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life. 4:14Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men. 4:15Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way. 4:16For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall. 4:17The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink. 4:18But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day. 4:19The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall. 4:20My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings. 4:21Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart. 4:22For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh. 4:23And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life. 4:24Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you. 4:25Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you. 4:26Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered. 4:27Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
5:1My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be turned to my teaching: 5:2So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge. 5:3For honey is dropping from the lips of the strange woman, and her mouth is smoother than oil; 5:4But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword; 5:5Her feet go down to death, and her steps to the underworld; 5:6She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge. 5:7Give ear to me then, my sons, and do not put away my words from you. 5:8Go far away from her, do not come near the door of her house; 5:9For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men: 5:10And strange men may be full of your wealth, and the fruit of your work go to the house of others; 5:11And you will be full of grief at the end of your life, when your flesh and your body are wasted; 5:12And you will say, How was teaching hated by me, and my heart put no value on training; 5:13I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers, my ear was not turned to those who were guiding me! 5:14I was in almost all evil in the company of the people. 5:15Let water from your store and not that of others be your drink, and running water from your fountain. 5:16Let not your springs be flowing in the streets, or your streams of water in the open places. 5:17Let them be for yourself only, not for other men with you. 5:18Let blessing be on your fountain; have joy in the wife of your early years. 5:19As a loving hind and a gentle doe, let her breasts ever give you rapture; let your passion at all times be moved by her love. 5:20Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a strange woman, and take another woman in your arms? 5:21For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he puts all his goings in the scales. 5:22The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin. 5:23He will come to his end for need of teaching; he is so foolish that he will go wandering from the right way.
6:1My son, if you have made yourself responsible for your neighbour, or given your word for another, 6:2You are taken as in a net by the words of your mouth, the sayings of your lips have overcome you. 6:3Do this, my son, and make yourself free, because you have come into the power of your neighbour; go without waiting, and make a strong request to your neighbour. 6:4Give no sleep to your eyes, or rest to them; 6:5Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a net for her. 6:6Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her ways and be wise: 6:7Having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 6:8She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting. 6:9How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your sleep? 6:10A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep: 6:11Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man 6:12A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his way causing trouble with false words; 6:13Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers; 6:14His mind is ever designing evil: he lets loose violent acts. 6:15For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no help for him. 6:16Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him: 6:17Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause; 6:18A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin; 6:19A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers. 6:20My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother: 6:21Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck. 6:22In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you. 6:23For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life. 6:24They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman. 6:25Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner. 6:26For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's wife goes after one's very life. 6:27May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing? 6:28Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be burned? 6:29So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment. 6:30Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it: 6:31But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house. 6:32He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul. 6:33Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame may not be washed away. 6:34For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy. 6:35He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.
7:1My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you. 7:2Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes; 7:3Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart. 7:4Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend: 7:5So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth. 7:6Looking out from my house, and watching through the window, 7:7I saw among the young men one without sense, 7:8Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house, 7:9At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night. 7:10And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart; 7:11She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house. 7:12Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road. 7:13So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him: 7:14I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected. 7:15So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you. 7:16My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt; 7:17I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices. 7:18Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights. 7:19For the master of the house is away on a long journey: 7:20He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon. 7:21With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips. 7:22The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord; 7:23Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side. 7:24So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth; 7:25Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps. 7:26For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army. 7:27Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to the rooms of death.
8:1Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding? 8:2At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place; 8:3Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud: 8:4I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men. 8:5Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart. 8:6Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright. 8:7For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me. 8:8All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them. 8:9They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge. 8:10Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold. 8:11For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her. 8:12I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes. 8:13The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me. 8:14Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine. 8:15Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions. 8:16Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness. 8:17Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me. 8:18Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness. 8:19My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver. 8:20I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging: 8:21So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full. 8:22The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past. 8:23From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was. 8:24When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. 8:25Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth: 8:26When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world. 8:27When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep: 8:28When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed: 8:29When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth: 8:30Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times; 8:31Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men. 8:32Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways. 8:33Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go. 8:34Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house. 8:35For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him. 8:36But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
9:1Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars. 9:2She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready. 9:3She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying, 9:4Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says: 9:5Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed. 9:6Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge. 9:7He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name. 9:8Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him. 9:9Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased. 9:10The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind 9:11For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long. 9:12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it. 9:13The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all. 9:14Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town, 9:15Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says: 9:16Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says: 9:17Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing. 9:18But he does not see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld.
10:1A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 10:2Wealth which comes from sin is of no profit, but righteousness gives salvation from death. 10:3The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food, but he puts far from him the desire of the evil-doers. 10:4He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth. 10:5He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame. 10:6Blessings are on the head of the upright, but the face of sinners will be covered with sorrow. 10:7The memory of the upright is a blessing, but the name of the evil-doer will be turned to dust. 10:8The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall. 10:9He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low. 10:10He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace. 10:11The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup. 10:12Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love. 10:13In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense. 10:14Knowledge is stored up by the wise, but the mouth of the foolish man is a destruction which is near. 10:15The property of the man of wealth is his strong town: the poor man's need is his destruction. 10:16The work of the upright gives life: the increase of the evil-doer is a cause of sin. 10:17He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he who gives up training is a cause of error. 10:18Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish. 10:19Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely. 10:20The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value. 10:21The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense. 10:22The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes it no greater. 10:23It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom. 10:24The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire. 10:25When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever. 10:26Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him. 10:27The fear of the Lord gives long life, but the years of the evil-doer will be cut short. 10:28The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the waiting of the evil-doer will have its end in sorrow. 10:29The way of the Lord is a strong tower for the upright man, but destruction to the workers of evil. 10:30The upright man will never be moved, but evil-doers will not have a safe resting-place in the land. 10:31The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom, but the twisted tongue will be cut off. 10:32The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.
11:1Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight. 11:2When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit. 11:3The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction. 11:4Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death. 11:5The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall. 11:6The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs. 11:7At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction. 11:8The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner. 11:9With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble. 11:10When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy. 11:11By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer. 11:12He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet. 11:13He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered. 11:14When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe. 11:15He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe. 11:16A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth. 11:17The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself. 11:18The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness. 11:19So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself. 11:20The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight 11:21Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe. 11:22Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense. 11:23The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer. 11:24A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need. 11:25He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed. 11:26He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price. 11:27He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it. 11:28He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf. 11:29The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted. 11:30The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls. 11:31If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
12:1A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a hater of teaching is like a beast. 12:2A good man has grace in the eyes of the Lord; but the man of evil designs gets punishment from him. 12:3No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but the root of upright men will never be moved. 12:4A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones. 12:5The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit. 12:6The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation. 12:7Evil-doers are overturned and never seen again, but the house of upright men will keep its place. 12:8A man will be praised in the measure of his wisdom, but a wrong-minded man will be looked down on. 12:9He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread. 12:10An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel. 12:11He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense. 12:12The resting-place of the sinner will come to destruction, but the root of upright men is for ever. 12:13In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble. 12:14From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food in full measure, and the work of a man's hands will be rewarded. 12:15The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions. 12:16A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a sharp man keeps shame secret. 12:17The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of righteousness; but a false witness gives out deceit. 12:18There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again. 12:19True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is only for a minute. 12:20Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy. 12:21No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will be full of evil. 12:22False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts are true are his delight. 12:23A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts. 12:24The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work. 12:25Care in the heart of a man makes it weighted down, but a good word makes it glad. 12:26The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them. 12:27He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth. 12:28In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of the evil-doer goes to death.
13:1A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words. 13:2A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts. 13:3He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction. 13:4The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat. 13:5The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame. 13:6Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin. 13:7A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth. 13:8A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words. 13:9There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out. 13:10The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit. 13:11Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased. 13:12Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life. 13:13He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded. 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death. 13:15Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction. 13:16A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts. 13:17A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well. 13:18Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured. 13:19To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish. 13:20Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken. 13:21Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good. 13:22The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man. 13:23There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing. 13:24He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care. 13:25The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
14:1Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is pulling it down with her hands. 14:2He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour. 14:3In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe. 14:4Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox. 14:5A true witness does not say what is false, but a false witness is breathing out deceit. 14:6The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. 14:7Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge. 14:8The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit. 14:9In the tents of those hating authority there is error, but in the house of the upright man there is grace. 14:10No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy. 14:11The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well. 14:12There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death. 14:13Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow. 14:14He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings. 14:15The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps. 14:16The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger. 14:17He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet. 14:18Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge. 14:19The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright. 14:20The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends. 14:21He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy. 14:22Will not the designers of evil come into error? But mercy and good faith are for the designers of good. 14:23In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor. 14:24Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise. 14:25A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit. 14:26For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place. 14:27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death. 14:28A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction. 14:29He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish. 14:30A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones. 14:31He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour. 14:32The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the upright man has hope in his righteousness. 14:33Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish. 14:34By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples. 14:35The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.
15:1By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings. 15:2Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words. 15:3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 15:4A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit. 15:5A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense. 15:6In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble. 15:7The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right. 15:8The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight. 15:9The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him. 15:10There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching. 15:11Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! 15:12The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise. 15:13A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 15:14The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise. 15:15All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast. 15:16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble. 15:17Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it. 15:18An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting. 15:19Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway. 15:20A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother. 15:21Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight. 15:22Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain. 15:23A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is! 15:24Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. 15:25The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow. 15:26Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing. 15:27He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life. 15:28The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things. 15:29The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright. 15:30The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat. 15:31The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise. 15:32He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom. 15:33The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
16:1The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord. 16:2All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales. 16:3Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain. 16:4The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil. 16:5Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment. 16:6By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil. 16:7When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him. 16:8Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing. 16:9A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps. 16:10Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging. 16:11True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work. 16:12Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness. 16:13Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him. 16:14The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it. 16:15In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain. 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver. 16:17The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul. 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall. 16:19Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride. 16:20He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy. 16:21The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased. 16:22Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour. 16:23The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips. 16:24Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones. 16:25There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death. 16:26The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on. 16:27A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire. 16:28A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends. 16:29A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good. 16:30He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about. 16:31The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness. 16:32He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town. 16:33A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
17:1Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour. 17:2A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers. 17:3The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. 17:4A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue. 17:5Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment. 17:6Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers. 17:7Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler. 17:8An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well. 17:9He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends. 17:10A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man. 17:11An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him. 17:12It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. 17:13If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house. 17:14The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows. 17:15He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord. 17:16How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense? 17:17A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. 17:18A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour. 17:19The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction. 17:20Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble. 17:21He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy. 17:22A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. 17:23A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause. 17:24Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth. 17:25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. 17:26To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness. 17:27He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. 17:28Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
18:1He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense. 18:2A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light. 18:3When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame. 18:4The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream. 18:5To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright. 18:6A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows. 18:7The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul. 18:8The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach. 18:9He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction. 18:10The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe. 18:11The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart. 18:12Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit. 18:13To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame. 18:14The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up? 18:15The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge. 18:16A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men. 18:17The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light. 18:18The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong. 18:19A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower. 18:20With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure. 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food. 18:22Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord. 18:23The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer. 18:24There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
19:1Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted. 19:2Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way. 19:3By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord. 19:4Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend. 19:5A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free. 19:6Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give. 19:7All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ... 19:8He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good. 19:9A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off. 19:10Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers. 19:11A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory. 19:12The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass. 19:13A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end. 19:14House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord. 19:15Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food. 19:16He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word. 19:17He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward. 19:18Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death. 19:19A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again. 19:20Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise. 19:21A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging. 19:22The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false. 19:23The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way. 19:24The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again. 19:25When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him. 19:26He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name. 19:27A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge. 19:28A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream. 19:29Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.