1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction;

3 To receive instruction in wise dealing,

4 To give prudence to the simple,

5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;

6 To understand a proverb, and a figure,

7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge;

V7 True knowledge and wisdom

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head,

10 My son, if sinners entice thee,

11 If they say, Come with us,

12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol,

13 We shall find all precious substance;

14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us;

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them;

16 For their feet run to evil,

17 For in vain is the net spread

18 And these lay wait for their own blood;

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain;

20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street;

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse;

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

23 Turn you at my reproof:

24 Because I have called, and ye have refused;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel,

26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity;

27 When your fear cometh as a storm,

28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer;

29 For that they hated knowledge,

30 They would none of my counsel,

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,

32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them,

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely,

V23 Repentance and some of its rewards

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words,

2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom,

3 Yea, if thou cry after discernment,

4 If thou seek her as silver,

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah,

6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom;

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright;

8 That he may guard the paths of justice,

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice,

10 For wisdom shall enter into thy heart,

11 Discretion shall watch over thee;

12 To deliver thee from the way of evil,

13 Who forsake the paths of uprightness,

14 Who rejoice to do evil,

15 Who are crooked in their ways,

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman,

17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth,

18 For her house inclineth unto death,

19 None that go unto her return again,

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land,

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the land,

1 My son, forget not my law;

2 For length of days, and years of life,

3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee:

4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding

5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart,

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes;

8 It will be health to thy navel,

9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance,

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,

11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah;

12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth,

V1 Disciplined by GOD, Honour GOD, GOD’s wisdom, Acknowledge the LORD, Trusting the LORD, Sticking with mercy and truth, Remembering GOD’s word, The blessings of remembering and obeying
V5 Discerning God’s leading

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,

14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,

15 She is more precious than rubies:

16 Length of days is in her right hand;

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:

19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth;

20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up,

21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes;

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul,

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely,

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear,

26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence,

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,

28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again,

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor,

30 Strive not with a man without cause,

31 Envy thou not the man of violence,

32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah;

33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked;

34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers;

35 The wise shall inherit glory;

1 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father,

2 For I give you good doctrine;

3 For I was a son unto my father,

4 And he taught me, and said unto me:

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee;

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom;

8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee;

9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace;

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked,

15 Avoid it, pass not by it;

16 For they sleep not, except they do evil;

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,

18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light,

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness:

20 My son, attend to my words;

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes;

22 For they are life unto those that find them,

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence;

24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth,

25 Let thine eyes look right on,

26 Make level the path of thy feet,

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:

V20 Hearing and keeping His word

1 My son, attend unto my wisdom;

2 That thou mayest preserve discretion,

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey,

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

5 Her feet go down to death;

6 So that she findeth not the level path of life:

7 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me,

8 Remove thy way far from her,

9 Lest thou give thine honor unto others,

10 Lest strangers be filled with thy strength,

11 And thou mourn at thy latter end,

12 And say, How have I hated instruction,

13 Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers,

14 I was well-nigh in all evil

15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern,

16 Should thy springs be dispersed abroad,

17 Let them be for thyself alone,

18 Let thy fountain be blessed;

19 As a loving hind and a pleasant doe,

20 For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman,

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah;

22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked,

23 He shall die for lack of instruction;

1 My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth,

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself,

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes,

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter,

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard;

7 Which having no chief,

8 Provideth her bread in the summer,

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

11 So shall thy poverty come as a robber,

12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity,

13 That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet,

14 In whose heart is perverseness,

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly;

16 There are six things which Jehovah hateth;

17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

18 A heart that deviseth wicked purposes,

19 A false witness that uttereth lies,

20 My son, keep the commandment of thy father,

21 Bind them continually upon thy heart;

22 When thou walkest, it shall lead thee;

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;

24 To keep thee from the evil woman,

25 Lust not after her beauty in thy heart;

26 For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread;

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom,

28 Or can one walk upon hot coals,

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbor’wife;

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold;

32 He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding:

33 Wounds and dishonor shall he get;

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man;

35 He will not regard any ransom;

1 My son, keep my words,

2 Keep my commandments and live;

3 Bind them upon thy fingers;

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister;

5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman,

6 For at the window of my house

7 And I beheld among the simple ones,

8 Passing through the street near her corner;

9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day,

10 And, behold, there met him a woman

11 (She is clamorous and wilful;

12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places,

13 So she caught him, and kissed him,

14 Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me;

15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee,

16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,

17 I have perfumed my bed

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning;

19 For the man is not at home;

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him;

21 With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield;

22 He goeth after her straightway,

23 Till an arrow strike through his liver;

24 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me,

25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways;

26 For she hath cast down many wounded:

27 Her house is the way to Sheol,

1 Doth not wisdom cry,

2 On the top of high places by the way,

3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,

4 Unto you, O men, I call;

5 O ye simple, understand prudence;

6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things;

7 For my mouth shall utter truth;

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;

11 For wisdom is better than rubies;

12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling,

13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil:

14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge:

15 By me kings reign,

16 By me princes rule,

17 I love them that love me;

18 Riches and honor are with me;

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,

22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way,

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth,

25 Before the mountains were settled,

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

27 When he established the heavens, I was there:

28 When he made firm the skies above,

29 When he gave to the sea its bound,

30 Then I was by him, as a master workman;

31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth;

32 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me;

33 Hear instruction, and be wise,

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me,

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life,

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:

1 Wisdom hath builded her house;

2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine;

3 She hath sent forth her maidens;

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:

5 Come, eat ye of my bread,

6 Leave off, ye simple ones, and live;

7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling;

8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee:

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied,

12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself;

V7 Be wise in giving correction

13 The foolish woman is clamorous;

14 And she sitteth at the door of her house,

15 To call to them that pass by,

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither;

17 Stolen waters are sweet,

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there;

1 The proverbs of Solomon.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing;

3 Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish;

4 He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand;

5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son;

6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous;

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed;

8 The wise in heart will receive commandments;

9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely;

10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow;

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life;

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes;

13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found;

14 Wise men lay up knowledge;

15 The rich man’wealth is his strong city:

16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life;

17 He is in the way of life that heedeth correction;

18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips;

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression;

20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver:

21 The lips of the righteous feed many;

22 The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich;

23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness;

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him;

25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more;

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,

27 The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days;

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness;

29 The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright;

30 The righteous shall never be removed;

31 The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom;

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable;

V2 Our righteousness
V9 Walking securely
V12 Testing for hate and love
V22 Two types of riches

1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame;

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them;

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath;

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way;

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;

8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble;

9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth;

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;

12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom;

13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it;

16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor;

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;

18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages;

19 He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;

20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;

21 Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’snout,

23 The desire of the righteous is only good;

24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat;

26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;

27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;

29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;

31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth;

V1 Dishonest gain
V3 Some benefits of righteousness
V14 Making hard and big decisions

1 Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge;

2 A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah;

3 A man shall not be established by wickedness;

4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband;

5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;

6 The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood;

7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not;

8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom;

9 Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant,

10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast;

11 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;

12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men;

13 In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man;

14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth;

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;

16 A fool’vexation is presently known;

17 He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness;

18 There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword;

19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever;

20 Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil;

21 There shall no mischief happen to the righteous;

22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah;

23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge;

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule;

25 Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop;

26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor;

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting;

28 In the way of righteousness is life;

1 A wise son heareth his father’instruction;

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth;

3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life;

4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing;

5 A righteous man hateth lying;

6 Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way;

7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:

8 The ransom of a man’life is his riches;

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth;

10 By pride cometh only contention;

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished;

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;

13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself;

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

15 Good understanding giveth favor;

16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge;

17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil;

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction;

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul;

20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise;

21 Evil pursueth sinners;

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’children;

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor;

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son;

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul;

V7 Great riches
V20 Who do we keep company with?

1 Every wise woman buildeth her house;

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah;

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride;

4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;

5 A faithful witness will not lie;

6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not;

7 Go into the presence of a foolish man,

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way;

9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools;

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness;

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown;

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man;

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways;

15 The simple believeth every word;

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil;

17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly;

18 The simple inherit folly;

19 The evil bow down before the good;

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor;

21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth;

22 Do they not err that devise evil?

23 In all labor there is profit;

24 The crown of the wise is their riches;

25 A true witness delivereth souls;

26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence;

27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life,

28 In the multitude of people is the king’glory;

29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding;

30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh;

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker;

32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing;

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding;

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation;

35 The king’favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely;

V12 The way to eternal death
V32 Refuge in death

1 A soft answer turneth away wrath;

2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright;

3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place,

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life;

5 A fool despiseth his father’correction;

6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure;

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge;

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah;

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah;

10 There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way;

11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah;

12 A scoffer loveth not to be reproved;

13 A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance;

14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge;

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil;

16 Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah,

17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,

18 A wrathful man stirreth up contention;

19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns;

20 A wise son maketh a glad father;

21 Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom;

22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed;

23 A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth;

24 To the wise the way of life goeth upward,

25 Jehovah will root up the house of the proud;

26 Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah;

27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house;

28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer;

29 Jehovah is far from the wicked;

30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart;

31 The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life

32 He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul;

33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom;

V1 How to respond to anger, One key on how to be a peacemaker

1 The plans of the heart belong to man;

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;

3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah,

4 Jehovah hath made everything for its own end;

5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah:

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for;

7 When a man’ways please Jehovah,

8 Better is a little, with righteousness,

9 A man’heart deviseth his way;

V6 How do I depart from evil?, Atonement and Repentance

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king;

11 A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s;

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness;

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings;

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death;

15 In the light of the king’countenance is life;

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:

18 Pride goeth before destruction,

19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,

20 He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good;

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent;

22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it;

23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth,

24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,

25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

26 The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him;

27 A worthless man deviseth mischief;

28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife;

29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor,

30 He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things:

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory;

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

33 The lot is cast into the lap;

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,

2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;

4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;

6 Children’children are the crown of old men;

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool;

8 A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it;

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;

10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion;

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good,

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous,

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

17 A friend loveth at all times;

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:

20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow;

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine;

23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom,

24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding;

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good,

27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge;

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise;

V27 Few words and staying calm

1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,

3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,

4 The words of a man’mouth are as deep waters;

5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good,

6 A fool’lips enter into contention,

7 A fool’mouth is his destruction,

8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

9 He also that is slack in his work

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;

11 The rich man’wealth is his strong city,

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

16 A man’gift maketh room for him,

17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease,

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;

20 A man’belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

23 The poor useth entreaties;

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;

V1 Separation and wisdom
V3 Discerning wickedness
V10 Strong tower
V24 How to gain a friend

1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good;

3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way;

4 Wealth addeth many friends;

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished;

6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man;

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him:

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul:

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished;

10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool;

11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger;

12 The king’wrath is as the roaring of a lion;

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father;

14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers;

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul;

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah,

18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope;

19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty;

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction,

21 There are many devices in a man’heart;

22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness;

23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life;

24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish,

25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother,

27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction

28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice;

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

V2 Pause, let’s not rush in
V20 Good for young people
V27 Keep listening to instructions

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion:

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness;

7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity,

8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,

10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures,

11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings,

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;

14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer;

15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies;

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;

17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man;

18 Every purpose is established by counsel;

19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother,

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil:

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah;

24 A man’goings are of Jehovah;

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy,

26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked,

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah,

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king;

29 The glory of young men is their strength;

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil;

V9 A good question

1 The king’heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses:

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes;

3 To do righteousness and justice

4 A high look, and a proud heart,

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away,

8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked;

9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil:

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;

12 The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked,

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger;

15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding

17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man:

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous;

19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,

20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise;

21 He that followeth after righteousness and kindness

22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue

24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name;

25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him;

26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long;

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

28 A false witness shall perish;

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face;

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle;

V5 Making plans
V25 Hard work is good

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

2 The rich and the poor meet together:

3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;

4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse:

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,

7 The rich ruleth over the poor;

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity;

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out;

11 He that loveth pureness of heart,

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge;

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without;

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit;

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain,

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee,

19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah,

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things

21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor;

23 For Jehovah will plead their cause,

24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger;

25 Lest thou learn his ways,

26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands,

27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay,

28 Remove not the ancient landmark,

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;

1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,

2 And put a knife to thy throat,

3 Be not desirous of his dainties;

4 Weary not thyself to be rich;

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?

6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye,

7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he:

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up,

9 Speak not in the hearing of a fool;

10 Remove not the ancient landmark;

11 For their Redeemer is strong;

12 Apply thy heart unto instruction,

13 Withhold not correction from the child;

14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod,

15 My son, if thy heart be wise,

16 Yea, my heart will rejoice,

V4 Overworking

17 Let not thy heart envy sinners;

18 For surely there is a reward;

19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise,

20 Be not among winebibbers,

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty;

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not;

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

25 Let thy father and thy mother be glad,

26 My son, give me thy heart;

27 For a harlot is a deep ditch;

28 Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber,

29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions?

30 They that tarry long at the wine;

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent,

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange things,

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea,

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt;

1 Be not thou envious against evil men;

2 For their heart studieth oppression,

3 Through wisdom is a house builded;

4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled

5 A wise man is strong;

6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war;

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool:

8 He that deviseth to do evil,

9 The thought of foolishness is sin;

10 If thou faint in the day of adversity,

11 Deliver them that are carried away unto death,

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this;

13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good;

14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul;

15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous;

16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again;

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,

18 Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him,

19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers;

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man;

21 My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king;

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly;

V12 No excuses
V17 Schadenfreude

23 These also are sayings of the wise.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous,

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,

26 He kisseth the lips

27 Prepare thy work without,

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause;

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me;

30 I went by the field of the sluggard,

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,

32 Then I beheld, and considered well;

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

34 So shall thy poverty come as a robber,

V27 Advise when starting of
V30 Laziness

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing;

3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

4 Take away the dross from the silver,

5 Take away the wicked from before the king,

6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king,

7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither,

8 Go not forth hastily to strive,

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself,

10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee,

11 A word fitly spoken

12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

14 As clouds and wind without rain,

15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded,

16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee,

17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’house,

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble

20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda,

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;

22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head,

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain;

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,

26 As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,

27 It is not good to eat much honey;

28 He whose spirit is without restraint

V12 Wisdom and obedience

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,

2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool

7 The legs of the lame hang loose;

8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,

9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

10 As an archer that woundeth all,

11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit,

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way;

14 As the door turneth upon its hinges,

15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish;

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit

17 He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,

18 As a madman who casteth firebrands,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,

20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out;

21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not;

26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile,

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;

28 A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded;

1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow;

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty;

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming;

5 Better is open rebuke

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb;

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest,

9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart;

10 Thine own friend, and thy father’friend, forsake not;

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day

16 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind;

17 Iron sharpeneth iron;

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof;

19 As in water face answereth to face,

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied;

21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain,

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks,

24 For riches are not for ever;

25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself,

26 The lambs are for thy clothing,

27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household,

V1 Tomorrow, Making plans
V2 Where praise should come from

1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth;

2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof;

3 A needy man that oppresseth the poor

4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked;

5 Evil men understand not justice;

6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,

7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son;

8 He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase,

9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,

10 Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way,

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit;

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper;

14 Happy is the man that feareth alway;

15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,

16 The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor;

17 A man that is laden with the blood of any person

18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered;

19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;

20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings;

21 To have respect of persons is not good;

22 He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches,

23 He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor

24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression,

25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife;

26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;

27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack;

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

V20 Get rich quick schemes

1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck

2 When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice;

3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father;

4 The king by justice establisheth the land;

5 A man that flattereth his neighbor

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare;

7 The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor;

8 Scoffers set a city in a flame;

9 If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man,

10 The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect;

11 A fool uttereth all his anger;

12 If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood,

13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor,

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom;

16 When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth;

17 Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest;

18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

19 A servant will not be corrected by words;

20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words?

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child

22 An angry man stirreth up strife,

23 A man’pride shall bring him low;

24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul;

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare;

26 Many seek the ruler’favor;

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous;

V1 Listen to correction
V11 Venting versus self
V13 This we all have in common
V18 Vision and purpose
V25 Safety, GOD’s opinion versus peoples opinion

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the oracle.

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man,

3 And I have not learned wisdom,

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended?

5 Every word of God is tried:

6 Add thou not unto his words,

7 Two things have I asked of thee;

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies;

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is Jehovah?

10 Slander not a servant unto his master,

11 There is a generation that curse their father,

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes,

13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes!

14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives,

V5 Trust in the LORD
V7 A good prayer
V11 This Generation, Overcoming this generation

15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.

16 Sheol; and the barren womb;

17 The eye that mocketh at his father,

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,

19 The way of an eagle in the air;

20 So is the way of an adulterous woman;

21 For three things the earth doth tremble,

22 For a servant when he is king;

23 For an odious woman when she is married;

V20 Self deception

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth,

25 The ants are a people not strong,

26 The conies are but a feeble folk,

27 The locusts have no king,

28 The lizard taketh hold with her hands,

29 There are three things which are stately in their march,

30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts,

31 The greyhound; the he-goat also;

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself,

33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter,

1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?

3 Give not thy strength unto women,

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law,

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb,

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously,

10 A worthy woman who can find?

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her,

12 She doeth him good and not evil

13 She seeketh wool and flax,

14 She is like the merchant-ships;

15 She riseth also while it is yet night,

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it;

17 She girdeth her loins with strength,

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable;

19 She layeth her hands to the distaff,

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household;

22 She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry;

23 Her husband is known in the gates,

24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them,

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing;

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household,

28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed;

29 Many daughters have done worthily,

30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands;