142:1I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. 142:2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 142:3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 142:4I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 142:5I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 142:6Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 142:7Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
143:1Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 143:2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 143:3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 143:4Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 143:5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 143:6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 143:7Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 143:8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 143:9Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. 143:10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 143:11Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. 143:12And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
144:1Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 144:2My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 144:3LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 144:4Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 144:5Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 144:6Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 144:7Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 144:8Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 144:9I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 144:10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 144:11Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 144:12That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 144:13That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 144:14That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 144:15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
145:1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 145:2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 145:3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 145:4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 145:5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 145:6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 145:7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 145:8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 145:9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 145:10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 145:11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 145:12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 145:13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 145:14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 145:15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 145:16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 145:17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 145:18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 145:19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 145:20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 145:21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
146:1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. 146:2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. 146:3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 146:4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 146:5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 146:6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 146:7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: 146:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: 146:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 146:10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
147:1Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. 147:2The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 147:3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 147:4He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 147:5Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 147:6The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. 147:7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 147:8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 147:9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 147:10He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 147:11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 147:12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 147:13For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 147:14He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 147:15He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 147:16He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. 147:17He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 147:18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 147:19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 147:20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
148:1Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 148:2Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 148:3Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 148:4Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 148:5Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 148:6He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 148:7Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 148:8Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 148:9Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 148:10Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 148:11Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 148:12Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 148:13Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 148:14He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
149:1Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 149:2Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 149:3Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 149:4For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 149:5Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 149:6Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 149:7To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 149:8To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 149:9To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
150:1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 150:2Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 150:3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 150:4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 150:5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 150:6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Proverbs
1:1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 1:2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 1:3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 1:4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 1:5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 1:6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 1:9For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 1:10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 1:11If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 1:12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 1:13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 1:14Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 1:15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 1:16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 1:17Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 1:18And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 1:19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 1:20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 1:21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 1:22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 1:23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 1:24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 1:25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 1:26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 1:27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 1:28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 1:29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 1:30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 1:31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 1:32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 1:33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
2:1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2:2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 2:3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 2:4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 2:5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 2:6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 2:7He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 2:8He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 2:9Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 2:10When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 2:11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 2:12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 2:13Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 2:14Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 2:15Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 2:16To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 2:17Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 2:18For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 2:19None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 2:20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 2:21For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 2:22But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
3:1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 3:2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3:3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 3:4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 3:5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 3:6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 3:7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 3:8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 3:9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 3:10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 3:11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 3:12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 3:13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 3:14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 3:15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 3:16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 3:17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 3:18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 3:19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 3:20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. 3:21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 3:22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 3:23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 3:24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 3:25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 3:26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. 3:27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 3:28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 3:29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 3:30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. 3:31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 3:32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. 3:33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 3:34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 3:35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
4:1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 4:2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 4:3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4:4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 4:5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 4:6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 4:7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 4:8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 4:9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 4:10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 4:11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 4:12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 4:13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. 4:14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 4:15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 4:16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 4:17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 4:18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 4:19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 4:20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 4:21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 4:22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 4:23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 4:24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 4:25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 4:26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 4:27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
5:1My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 5:2That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. 5:3For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 5:4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5:5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 5:6Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 5:7Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 5:8Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 5:9Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 5:10Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; 5:11And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 5:12And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 5:13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! 5:14I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. 5:15Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 5:16Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 5:17Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. 5:18Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 5:19Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 5:20And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 5:21For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 5:22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 5:23He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
6:1My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 6:2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 6:3Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 6:4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 6:5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6:6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 6:7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 6:8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 6:9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 6:10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 6:11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. 6:12A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 6:13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 6:14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 6:15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 6:16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 6:17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 6:18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 6:19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 6:20My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 6:21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 6:22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 6:23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 6:24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 6:25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 6:26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 6:27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 6:28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 6:29So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 6:30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 6:31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 6:32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 6:33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 6:34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 6:35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
7:1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 7:2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 7:3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 7:4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 7:5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 7:6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7:7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 7:8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 7:9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 7:10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 7:11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 7:12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 7:13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 7:14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 7:15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 7:16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 7:18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 7:19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 7:20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 7:21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 7:22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 7:23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 7:24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 7:25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 7:26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 7:27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
8:1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 8:2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 8:3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 8:4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 8:5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 8:6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 8:7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8:8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 8:9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. 8:10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 8:11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 8:12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 8:14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 8:15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 8:16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 8:17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. 8:18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 8:19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 8:20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 8:21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. 8:22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 8:23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 8:24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 8:25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 8:26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 8:27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 8:28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 8:29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 8:30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 8:31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 8:32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 8:33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 8:34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 8:36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
9:1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 9:2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 9:3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 9:4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 9:5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 9:6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 9:7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 9:8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9:9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 9:11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 9:12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 9:13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 9:14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 9:15To call passengers who go right on their ways: 9:16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 9:17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 9:18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
10:1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 10:2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 10:3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 10:4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 10:5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 10:6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 10:7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 10:8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 10:9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10:10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 10:11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 10:13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 10:14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 10:15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 10:16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 10:17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. 10:18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 10:19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. 10:20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 10:22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 10:23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. 10:24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 10:25As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 10:26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 10:27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 10:28The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 10:29The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 10:30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 10:31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 10:32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.