Prologue

• 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand sayings of understanding,
• 3 to gain insightful instruction ,[fn] righteousness and justice and equity,
• 4 to give shrewdness[fn] to the simple, knowledge and purpose[fn] to the young,
• 5 may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction,[fn]
• 6 to understand a proverb and an expression, words of wisdom and their riddles.
• 7 Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

Lecture Against Gang Behavior

• 8 My child, may you keep[fn] your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
• 9 for they are a garland of favor for your head, and pendants for your neck.
• 10 My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
  • 11 If they say, “Come with us!
  • We shall lie in wait for blood;
  • we shall ambush the innocent without cause.[fn]
  • 12 Like Sheol,[fn] we will swallow them alive and whole, like those who descend to the pit .[fn]
  • 13 We shall find all precious wealth, we shall fill our houses with booty,
  • 14 you shall throw your lot in our midst, there will be one purse for all of us.”
  • 15 My child, do not walk in their way.[fn] Keep your foot from their paths,
  • 16 for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood,
  • 17 for “in vain[fn] is the net scattered, in the sight of any winged bird .”[fn]
  • 18 They lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush their own lives.
  • 19 Thus are the ways of all who are greedy for gain— it will take the life of its possessors.

The Call of Lady Wisdom

• 20 Wisdom calls out in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice.
• 21 On a busy corner[fn] she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:
• 22 “ How long ,[fn] O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing,
• and fools hate knowledge?
• 23 May you turn to my argument![fn] Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
• I will make my words known to you.
• 24 Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.
• 25 You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing to accept.
• 26 I will also laugh at your calamity;[fn] I will mock when panic[fn] comes upon you.
• 27 When your panic comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind,
• when distress and anguish come upon you,
• 28 then they will call[fn] me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me.
• 29 Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
• 30 they were not willing to accept my counsel, they despised all my reproof.
• 31 They shall eat from the fruit of their way, and they shall be sated from their own schemes,
• 32 for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
• 33 Whoever listens to me will dwell in security and rest securely[fn] from dread and disaster.”

The Benefits of Wisdom

• and hide my commands with you,
• 2 in order to incline your ear toward wisdom, then you shall apply your heart to understanding.
• 3 For if you cry out for understanding,[fn] if you lift[fn] your voice for insight,
• 4 if you seek her like silver and search her out like treasure ,[fn]
• 5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find.
• 6 For Yahweh will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• 7 For the upright, he stores[fn] sound judgment, a shield for those who walk uprightly,
  • 8 in order to guard paths of justice and keep[fn] the way of his faithful ones.
  • 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and uprightness—every good course—
  • 10 for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul.[fn]
  • 11 Discretion will watch over you; understanding will protect you,
  • 12 in order to deliver you from the way of evil,[fn] from a man who speaks devious things—
  • 13 those who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in ways of darkness,
  • 14 those who are happy to do evil, for they delight in the deviousness of evil,
  • 15 who are crooked in their ways ,[fn] and devious in their paths;
  • 16 in order to deliver you from a strange woman, from a foreign woman who flatters[fn] with her sayings,
  • 17 she who forsakes the partner of her youth and has forgotten the covenant of her God,
  • 18 for her house sinks to death, and to the dead[fn] are her paths.
  • 19 Of all who go to her, none shall return, nor do they reach paths of life.
  • 20 So that you will walk on the road of those who are good, and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.
  • 21 For those who are upright will dwell in the land,[fn] and those who are blameless[fn] will remain in it.
  • 22 And those who are wicked will be cut off from the land, and those who are treacherous will be uprooted from it.

Wisdom and Piety

• and may your heart guard my commands.
• 2 For length of days, years of life, and peace they[fn] shall add to you.
• 3 May loyal love[fn] and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck,
• write them upon your heart.
• 4 And you shall find favor and good sense[fn] in the eyes of God and humankind.
• 5 Trust Yahweh[fn] with all your heart; do not lean toward your own understanding.
• 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will straighten your paths.
• 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
• 8 There shall be healing for your flesh ,[fn] and refreshment for your body.
• 9 Honor Yahweh from your substance,[fn] and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you,
• 10 and your barns shall be full of plenty, and your vats shall burst with new wine.

Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

• 11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child. Do not be weary of his reproof
• 12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke, as a father delights in his son.
• 13 Happy is the one[fn] who finds wisdom, and one who obtains understanding.
• 14 For her[fn] income is better than the income of silver, and her revenue than that of gold.
• 15 She is more precious than rubies, and all your desires shall not compare with her.
• 16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
• 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
• 18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her; those who take hold of her are considered happy.

Role of Wisdom in Creation and Society

• 19 Yahweh in wisdom founded the earth; he established the heavens in understanding.
• 20 With his knowledge, depths broke open, and clouds dropped dew.
• 21 My child, may they[fn] not escape from your sight ;[fn] may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
• 22 They shall be life for your soul[fn] and adornment[fn] for your neck.
• 23 Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways, and your foot will not stumble.
• 24 If you sit down, you will not panic,[fn] and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
• 25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,[fn] or the storm of wickedness that will come.
• 26 Yahweh will be your confidence[fn] and guard your foot from capture.
• 27 Do not withhold good from its owner[fn] when it is in the power of your hand to do.
• 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and return and tomorrow I will give it,”
• when it is with you .[fn]
• 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor who dwells in confidence beside you.
• 30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when he did not do you harm.
• 31 Do not envy a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways,
• 32 for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh, but those who are upright are his confidence.
• 33 The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked, and the abode of the righteous ones he blesses.
• 34 With those who scorn, he is scornful, but to those who are humble, he gives favor.
• 35 They will inherit the honor of the wise, but stubborn fools, disgrace.

The Father’s Wisdom

• and be attentive in order to know insight.
• 2 For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.
• 3 When I was a son to my father, tender and alone before my mother,
• 4 he taught me and said to me, “May your heart hold fast to my words;
• guard my commandments and live.
• 5 Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
• 6 Do not forsake her—then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.
• 7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
• 8 Cherish her and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
• 9 She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

The Right Path

• 10 Listen, my child, take my sayings, and the years of your life shall be great.
• 11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you; I have led you in the path of uprightness.
• 12 When you walk ,[fn] your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
• 13 Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.
• 14 In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.
• 15 Avoid it; do not transgress it; turn away from it and pass by.
• 16 For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.
• 17 For they ate the bread of wickedness, and they drank the wine of violence.
• 18 But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day is full .[fn]
• 19 The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

Staying the Course

• 20 My child, be attentive to my words; to my sayings incline your ear.
• 21 May they not escape from your sight ;[fn] keep them in the midst of your heart.
• 22 For they are life to those who find them and healing to the entire body .[fn]
• 23 With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it comes the source[fn] of life.
• 24 Remove from yourself deceitful speech ,[fn] and abolish devious talk[fn] from yourself.
• 25 May your eyes look forward[fn] and your gaze be straight before you.
• 26 May the path of your foot be balanced and all your ways be sure.
• 27 Do not swerve right or left; remove your foot from evil.
• and to my understanding incline your ear;
• 2 in order to keep prudence, and knowledge will guard your lips.
• 3 For the lips of the strange woman will drip honey, and smoother than oil is her mouth.[fn]
• 4 But her end is bitter as the wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
• 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold of Sheol.[fn]
• 6 She does not observe[fn] the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

Do Not Commit Adultery Against Wisdom

• 7 Now, O children, listen to me; do not depart from the sayings of my mouth.
• 8 Keep your paths far from her, and do not go near to the door of her house,
• 9 lest you give your honor to the others, and your years to the merciless,
• 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
• 11 and you groan at your end, when your flesh and body are consumed,
• 12 and say “How I hated discipline, and I despised reproof!”
• 13 and “I did not listen to the voice of my teachers, and I did not incline my ear to my instructors!
• 14 I was almost at utter[fn] ruin[fn] in the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
• 15 Drink water from your own cistern and flowing waters from inside your own well.
• 16 Shall your springs be scattered outward? In the streets, shall there be streams of water?
• 17 May they be yours alone, and not for strangers who are with you.
• 18 May your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife[fn] of your youth.
• 19 She is a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you always ;[fn]
• by her love may you be intoxicated continually.
• 20 Why should you be intoxicated, my child, by a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
• 21 For before the eyes of Yahweh are human ways ,[fn] and all his paths he examines.
• 22 His iniquities shall ensnare him, the evildoer, and in the vanity of his sin he shall be caught.
• 23 He shall die for lack of[fn] discipline, and in the greatness of his folly he shall be lost.

Against Pledges

• if you have bound yourself[fn] to the stranger,
• 2 if you are snared by the sayings of your mouth, if you are caught by the sayings of your mouth,
• 3 do this, then, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into the palm of your neighbor’s hand :[fn]
• Go, humble yourself, plead with your neighbor.
• 4 Do not give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eyelids.
• 5 Save yourself like a gazelle from a hand, or like a bird from the hand of a fowler.

Against Sloth

• 6 Go to the ant, lazy! Consider its ways and be wise.
• 7 It has no chief, officer, or ruler.
• 8 In the summer, it prepares its food; in the harvest, it gathers its sustenance.
• 9 How long will you lie down, lazy? When will you rise up from your sleep?
• 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest—
• 11 like a robber[fn] shall your poverty come, and what you lack like an armed man.

Against Worthlessness

• 12 A worthless man, an evil man, goes around with deceitful speech .[fn]
• 13 Winking in his eye, shuffling in his foot, pointing in his fingers,
• 14 perversion in his heart, he devises evil; at all times he will send out discord.[fn]
• 15 Upon such a man ,[fn] suddenly shall his calamity come; in a moment he will be damaged and there is no healing.[fn]

What Yahweh Hates

• 16 There are six things Yahweh hates, and seven things are abominations of his soul:[fn]
• 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
• 18 a devising heart, plans of deception, feet that hurry to run to evil,[fn]
• 19 a false witness who breathes lies and sends out discord[fn] between brothers.

Commandment and Instruction as Guardians

• 20 My child, keep the commandment of your father, and do not disregard the instruction of your mother.
• 21 Bind them on your heart continually; tie them upon your neck.
• 22 When you walk ,[fn] she[fn] will lead you, When you lie down ,[fn] she will watch over you,
• and when you awake, she will converse with you.
• 23 For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light, and the way of life[fn] is the reproof of discipline,
• 24 in order to preserve you from an evil woman,[fn] from the smoothness of the tongue of aan adulteress.[fn]
• 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart; may she not capture you with her eyelashes.
• 26 For the price of a woman, a prostitute,[fn] is the price of a loaf of bread, but the woman belonging to a man[fn] hunts precious life.

Warning Against Relations with a Married Woman

• 27 Can a man carry fire in his lap, and his clothes not burn?
• 28 If a man walks upon the hot coals, will his feet not be burned?
• 29 Thus, he who goes to the wife of his neighbor, any who touches her shall not go unpunished.
• 30 People do not despise a thief when he steals to fill himself[fn] when he is hungry.
• 31 But if he is found, he will pay sevenfold, every possession of his house he shall give.
• 32 He who commits adultery with a woman lacks sense ,[fn] he destroys himself[fn] who does it.
• 33 A wound and dishonor he will find, and his disgrace will not be wiped out.
• 34 For jealousy is the fury of a husband, and he will not show restraint on the day of revenge.
• 35 He will not accept any compensation ,[fn] and he will not be willing, though the bribe is large.

Warning Against the Strange Woman

• store my commandments with you.
• 2 Keep my commands and live, and my teaching like the apple of your eye .[fn]
• 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
• 4 Say to wisdom,[fn] “you are my sister,” and you shall call insight,[fn] “ intimate friend .”[fn]
• 5 In order to guard yourself from an adulteress ,[fn] from the foreigner who makes her words smooth .[fn]
• 6 For at the window of my house, through my lattice, I looked down.
• 7 And I saw among the simple, I observed among the youth,
• a young man lacking sense ,[fn]
• 8 passing on the street at[fn] her corner, and he takes the road to her house,
• 9 at twilight, at the day’s evening, in the midst of night and the darkness.
• 10 Then behold! A woman comes to meet him with the garment of a prostitute[fn] and a secret heart.[fn]
• 11 She is loud and stubborn; her feet do not stay at her house.
• 12 Now in the street, now in the square, at[fn] every corner she lies in wait.
• 13 She took hold of[fn] him and kissed him. Her face was impudent, and she said to him,
• 14 “Sacrifices of peace offerings are upon me; today[fn] I completed my vows.
• 15 So[fn] I have come out to meet you, to seek your face, and I have found you.
• 16 With coverings I have adorned my couch, spreads of the linen of Egypt;
• 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
• 18 Come, let us take our fill of love making, until the morning let us delight in love.
• 19 For there is no man[fn] in his home; he has gone on a long journey .[fn]
• 20 The bag of money he took in his hand, for on the day of the full moon he will come home.”
• 21 She persuades him with the greatness of her teachings; with her smooth lips she compels him.
• 22 He goes after her suddenly; like an ox to the slaughter he goes,
• and like a stag to the instruction of a fool,
• 23 until an arrow pierces his entrails ,[fn] like a bird rushing into a snare,
• but he does not know that it will cost him his life .[fn]

Reiteration of the Warning Against a Strange Woman

• 24 And now, my children, listen to me, and be attentive to the sayings of my mouth.
• 25 May your heart not turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her path.
• 26 For many slain she has laid low, and countless[fn] are all of her killings.
• 27 The ways of Sheol[fn] are her house, descending to chambers of death.

Wisdom Calls

• and understanding raise its voice?
• 2 Atop the heights[fn] beside the road, at the crossroads she stands.
• 3 Beside gates, before towns, at the entrance of doors, she cries out:
• 4 “To you, O people ,[fn] I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind.
• 5 Learn prudence, O simple ones; fools, learn intelligence .[fn]
• 6 Listen! For noble things I will speak, and upright things from the opening of my lips.
• 7 My mouth will utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
• 8 All sayings of my mouth are in righteousness; none of them are twisted and crooked.
• 9 All of them are straight to him who understands, and upright to those who find knowledge.
• 10 Take my teaching and not silver; may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.
• 11 For wisdom is better than jewels, and all desires shall not compare with her.
• 12 I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
• 13 The fear of Yahweh is hatred of evil, pride, and arrogance and an evil way.
• And I hate a mouth of perversity.
• 14 Advice and sound judgment[fn] are mine; I am understanding, strength is mine .[fn]
• 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree righteousness.
• 16 By me rulers rule, and nobles—all judges of righteousness.
• 17 I love those who love me ,[fn] and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
• 18 Fortune and glory are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
• 19 My fruit is better than gold,[fn] even refined gold, and my yield than choice silver.
• 20 In the way of righteousness I walk, in the midst of paths of justice,
• 21 in order to endow those who love me with wealth, and I will fill their treasuries.

Wisdom at Creation

• 22 “Yahweh possessed[fn] me, the first of his ways, before his acts of old .[fn]
• 23 From eternity, I was set up from the first, from the beginning[fn] of the earth.
• 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs of abounding[fn] water.
• 25 Before mountains had been shaped, before hills, I was brought forth.
• 26 When he had not yet made earth and fields, or the first dust of the world,
• 27 when he established[fn] the heavens, there I was, when he drew[fn] a circle upon the face of the deep,
• 28 when he made[fn] skies from above, when he founded fountains of the deep,
• 29 when he assigned[fn] his limits to the sea, that waters shall not transgress his command ,[fn]
• when he marked[fn] the foundations of the earth,
• 30 I was beside[fn] him, a master workman, and I was delighting day by day,
• rejoicing before him always ,[fn]
• 31 rejoicing in the world of his earth, and my delight was with the children of humankind.

Benefits of Following Wisdom

• 32 “And now, children, listen to me; happy are those who will keep my ways.
• 33 Hear teaching and be wise; do not neglect it.
• 34 Happy is the person who listens to me, in order to keep watch at my doors day by day,
• in order to guard the frames of my entrances.
• 35 For he who finds me is he who finds[fn] life, and he obtains favor from Yahweh.
• 36 But he who misses me injures himself.[fn] All those who hate me love death.”

Wisdom’s Banquet

• she has hewn her seven pillars.
• 2 She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine, and also set her table.
• 3 She has sent her servant girls,[fn] she calls upon the wings of the high places of town,
• 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn here.” As for the one who lacks sense ,[fn] she says to him,
• 5 “Come, eat with my bread; drink with the wine I have mixed.
• 6 Lay aside simplicity and live; walk in the way of understanding.”
• 7 He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself, and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt .[fn]
• 8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love you.
• 9 Give to a wise one and he will become more wise; teach[fn] a righteous one and he will increase learning.

Foolishness’ Banquet

• 10 The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh, and knowledge of the Holy One,[fn] insight.
• 11 For by me your days shall increase, and years of life shall multiply for you.
• 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it.
• 13 A woman of foolishness is loud, simple, and does not know it .[fn]
• 14 She sits at the door of her house, upon a throne at the high places of town,
• 15 in order to call to those who pass by the road, those who go straight on their way:
• 16 “Whoever is simple, may he turn here!” As for he who lacks sense ,[fn] she says to him,
• 17 “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
• 18 But he does not know that the dead[fn] are there, in the depths of Sheol[fn] are her guests.

Proverbs of Solomon

• A wise child makes a father glad,
  • but a foolish child grieves his mother.
  • 2 Treasures of wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.
  • 3 Yahweh will not cause a righteous person[fn] to go hungry, but the craving of the wicked he will thwart.
  • 4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent enriches.
  • 5 He who gathers in the summer is a child who is prudent; he who sleeps at the harvest is a child who brings shame.
  • 6 Blessings belong to the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
  • 7 The memory of righteousness is like a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
  • 8 A heart of wisdom will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
  • 9 Whoever walks in integrity[fn] will walk securely, but whoever follows perversity, his ways will be made known.
  • 10 The winking of an eye causes[fn] trouble, and the foolishness of lips comes to ruin.
  • 11 A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness, and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.
  • 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers over all offenses.
  • 13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense .[fn]
  • 14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.
  • 15 The wealth of the rich is the city of his strength; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.
  • 16 The wage of the righteous leads to life; the gain of the wicked to sin.
  • 17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction, but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.
  • 18 He who conceals hatred has lips of deceit, and he who utters slander—he is a fool.
  • 19 In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.
  • 20 Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart[fn] of wickedness is of little worth .[fn]
  • 21 Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools die for lack of sense .[fn]
  • 22 The blessing of Yahweh makes one rich, and he does not increase sorrow with it.
  • 23 It is like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.
  • 24 The dread of the wicked will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
  • 25 With the passing of the tempest, there is no wickedness, but the righteous have a foundation forever.
  • 26 Like vinegar to the tooth and like smoke to the eyes, thus is the lazy to one who employs[fn] him.
  • 27 The fear of Yahweh adds life, but the years of the wicked are shortened.
  • 28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.
  • 29 A stronghold for the upright is the way of Yahweh, but ruin belongs to evildoers .[fn]
  • 30 The righteous one is forever; he will not be removed. But the wicked will not remain in the land.[fn]
  • 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a tongue of perversity will be cut off.
  • 32 The lips of the righteous know the acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, the perverse.
  • but an accurate weight[fn] delights him.
  • 2 Pride comes, then disgrace comes, but wisdom is with the humble.
  • 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
  • 4 Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death.
  • 5 The righteousness of the blameless will keep his ways straight, but the wicked will fall by his wickedness.
  • 6 The righteousness of the upright will save them, but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.
  • 7 With the death of a wicked person, hope will die, and the expectation of the godless perishes.
  • 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, but the wicked enters into it.
  • 9 With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
  • 10 When good is with the righteous, the city rejoices, and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.
  • 11 By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.
  • 12 He who lacks sense[fn] belittles his neighbor, but a person of intelligence will remain silent.
  • 13 A gossip walks about telling a secret, but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.
  • 14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[fn] shall fall, but there is safety in an abundance of counsel.
  • 15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger, but he who refuses a pledge is safe.
  • 16 A woman of grace receives honor, but the ruthless gets wealth.
  • 17 A person of kindness rewards himself,[fn] but a cruel person harms his own flesh.
  • 18 The wicked earns[fn] deceptive gain ,[fn] but he who sows righteousness, a true reward .[fn]
  • 19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life as[fn] he who pursues evil is to death.
  • 20 An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart ,[fn] but his delight are those with blameless ways .[fn]
  • 21 Rest assured ,[fn] the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring[fn] of the righteous will escape.
  • 22 A ring of gold in the snout of a pig is a woman who is beautiful but without discretion.
  • 23 The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.
  • 24 There is one who gives yet grows richer ,[fn] but he who withholds what is right[fn] only finds need.
  • 25 A person of blessing will be enriched, and he who gives water also will be refreshed.
  • 26 He who withholds grain, the people curse him, but a blessing is for the head of him who sells.
  • 27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who inquires of evil, it will come to him.
  • 28 He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall, but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.
  • 29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[fn] and a fool will serve the wise of heart.
  • 30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and he who captures souls[fn] is wise.
  • 31 If the righteous on earth will be repaid, how much more[fn] the wicked and sinner.
  • but he who hates rebuke is stupid.
  • 2 The good obtains favor from Yahweh, but anyone who schemes, he condemns.
  • 3 A person will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.
  • 4 A woman of strength[fn] is the crown of her master,[fn] but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.
  • 5 The thoughts of the righteous are[fn] just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
  • 6 The words of the wicked are an ambush of blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
  • 7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more ,[fn] but the house of the righteous shall stand.
  • 8 For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended, but he who is of perverse mind[fn] will be despised.
  • 9 It is better to be lowly and a servant to someone[fn] than self-glorifying and lacking food.
  • 10 The righteous knows the life[fn] of his animal, but the compassion[fn] of the wicked is cruel.
  • 11 He who works his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows worthless things lacks sense .[fn]
  • 12 The wicked covets the proceeds of evil, but the root of the righteous bears fruit .[fn]
  • 13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
  • 14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good, and the reward of a man’s labor[fn] will return to him.
  • 15 The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes, but he who listens to advice is wise.
  • 16 As for a fool, on that very day[fn] he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult is prudent.
  • 17 He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness, but the witness of falsehood, deceit.
  • 18 There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
  • 19 A lip of truth endures forever, but a tongue of deception lasts only a moment.
  • 20 Deceit is in the heart[fn] of those who plan[fn] evil, but to those who plan[fn] peace, there is joy.
  • 21 No evil will happen[fn] to the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
  • 22 An abomination of Yahweh are lips of deceit, but they who act faithfully are his delight.
  • 23 A clever person conceals knowledge, but the heart[fn] of a fool[fn] announces folly.
  • 24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule, but the lazy will belong to forced labor.
  • 25 Anxiety in the heart[fn] of a man will weigh him down, but a good word will cheer him.
  • 26 A righteous person will seek out his neighbor, but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.
  • 27 The lazy will not roast his game, but diligence is the precious wealth of a man.
  • 28 On the road of righteousness is life, and on the way of the path, may there be no death.
  • but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.
  • 2 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good, but the desire[fn] of the treacherous, wrongdoing.
  • 3 He who keeps his mouth guards his life;[fn] he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.
  • 4 The soul[fn] of the lazy craves, but there is nothing, but the person of diligence is richly supplied.
  • 5 The righteous hates a word of falsehood; the wicked will bring shame and disgrace .[fn]
  • 6 Righteousness will guard the upright of way, but wickedness will overthrow sin.
  • 7 There is one who acts rich but has nothing ;[fn] another who pretends to be poor but has wealth.
  • 8 The ransom of the life of a man is his wealth, but the poor does not receive a threat.
  • 9 The light of the righteous will rejoice, but the lamp of the wicked will die out.
  • 10 Only by insolence is strife set up, and wisdom is with those who take advice.
  • 11 Wealth gained from haste[fn] will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little[fn] will increase it.
  • 12 Hope that is deferred makes the heart[fn] sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
  • 13 He who despises a word will bring destruction on himself, but he who respects a commandment will be rewarded.
  • 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, in order to avoid the snares of death.
  • 15 Good sense grants favor, but the way of the faithless is coarse.
  • 16 Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence, but the fool will display folly.
  • 17 A messenger of wickedness will fall into trouble, but an envoy of the faithful brings healing.
  • 18 Poverty and disgrace belong to him who ignores instruction, but he who guards reproof will be honored.
  • 19 A desire fulfilled[fn] will be sweet to the soul, but an abomination of fools is turning from evil.
  • 20 Walk with the wise and be wise, but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.
  • 21 Misfortune will pursue sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity .[fn]
  • 22 He who is good will leave an inheritance to his grandchildren ,[fn] and stored up for the righteous is the wealth of a sinner.
  • 23 There is much food in the field of the poor, but it is swept away[fn] by injustice .[fn]
  • 24 He who withholds his rod hates his child, but he who loves him gives him[fn] discipline.
  • 25 The righteous eats to satisfy his life,[fn] but the belly of the wicked will lack.
  • but the foolish tears it down with her hands.
  • 2 He who walks in uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is devious in his ways displeases him.
  • 3 In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride, but the lips of the wise preserve them.
  • 4 When there are no[fn] oxen the manger is empty, but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.[fn]
  • 5 A faithful witness does not lie, but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.
  • 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none, but knowledge comes easily to him who understands .[fn]
  • 7 Leave the presence of a foolish man ,[fn] for you will not come to know words of knowledge .[fn]
  • 8 The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways, but the folly of fools is deceit.
  • 9 Fools mock[fn] the guilt offering, but among the upright, it is favorable.
  • 10 The heart[fn] knows the bitterness of its soul,[fn] but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.
  • 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
  • 12 There is a way that seems upright to[fn] a man, but its end is the way of death.
  • 13 Even in laughter, a heart may be sad, and the end of joy may be grief.
  • 14 From his ways, the perverse of heart will be satisfied, and from his own ,[fn] so shall a good man.
  • 15 The simple will believe every word, but the clever will consider his step.
  • 16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.
  • 17 He who is short of temper[fn] will act foolishly, and the man who schemes will be hated.
  • 18 The simple are adorned with folly, but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
  • 19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
  • 20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the lovers of the rich are many.
  • 21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.
  • 22 Have they not erred, those who plan evil? But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
  • 23 In all toil, there is profit, but the talk[fn] of lips leads only to poverty.
  • 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth; the folly of fools is folly.
  • 25 He who saves lives[fn] is a witness of truth, but he who utters lies is a betrayer.
  • 26 In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength, and for his children, there will be refuge.
  • 27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, in order to turn from the snares of death.
  • 28 In the multitude of people is the glory of the king, but without a population, a prince is ruined.
  • 29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the hasty of spirit[fn] exalts folly.
  • 30 A heart[fn] of tranquility[fn] is life to the flesh, but causes bones of passion to rot.
  • 31 He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.
  • 32 By his evildoing, the wicked will be overthrown, and the righteous will find refuge in his death.
  • 33 In the heart[fn] of him who has understanding, wisdom rests, but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.
  • 34 Righteousness will exalt a nation, but sin is a reproach to a people.
  • 35 The favor of a king is for the servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be on him who acts shamefully.
  • but a word of trouble will stir anger .[fn]
  • 2 The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge, but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.
  • 3 In every place, the eyes of Yahweh keep watch over the evil and the good.
  • 4 Gentleness[fn] of tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it[fn] causes a break in spirit.
  • 5 A fool will despise the instruction of his father, but he who guards reproof is prudent.
  • 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
  • 7 The lips of the wise will spread knowledge, but the heart[fn] of fools, not so.
  • 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
  • 9 An abomination of Yahweh is the way of the wicked, but he who pursues righteousness he will love.
  • 10 Severe discipline belongs to him who forsakes the way; he who hates a rebuke will die.
  • 11 Sheol[fn] and Abaddon[fn] are before Yahweh, how much more[fn] the hearts of the children of men!
  • 12 A scoffer does not like his rebuke ;[fn] to the wise he will not go.
  • 13 A heart[fn] of gladness will make good countenance ,[fn] but in sorrow of heart[fn] a spirit is broken.
  • 14 The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge, but the faces of fools, they[fn] will feed on folly.
  • 15 All the days of the poor are hard, but goodness of heart[fn] is a continuous feast.
  • 16 Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble with it.[fn]
  • 17 Better is a dinner of vegetables when[fn] love is there than a fattened ox and hatred with it.[fn]
  • 18 A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife, but he who is slow to anger ,[fn] he will calm contention.
  • 19 The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,[fn] but the path of the upright is a highway.
  • 20 A child of wisdom will make a father glad, but a foolish person ,[fn] he despises his mother.
  • 21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense ,[fn] and a person of understanding will walk upright .[fn]
  • 22 Plans go wrong when there is no counsel, but with many advisors it will succeed.
  • 23 Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth, and a word in its time, how good it is!
  • 24 The path of life leads upward for him who has insight, in order to turn away from Sheol below.
  • 25 The house of the proud, Yahweh will tear it down, but he will maintain the property line[fn] of the widow.
  • 26 Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh, but gracious words are pure.
  • 27 He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain, but he who hates bribes will live.
  • 28 A heart[fn] of righteousness will ponder the answer, but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.
  • 29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.
  • 30 From the light of the eyes, the heart[fn] will rejoice, and good news will enliven the bones.[fn]
  • 31 The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life, in the midst of the wise it will lodge.
  • 32 He who ignores instruction despises himself,[fn] but he who hears admonition gains heart.[fn]
  • 33 Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise, and before honor comes humility.
  • but from Yahweh comes the answer of the tongue.
  • 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirit.[fn]
  • 3 Commit your work to Yahweh, and your plans will be established.
  • 4 All Yahweh has made is for his[fn] purpose, and even the wicked for the day of trouble.
  • 5 An abomination of Yahweh are all who are arrogant of heart;[fn] rest assured,[fn] he will not go unpunished.
  • 6 By loyalty and faithfulness, iniquity will be covered over,[fn] and by fear of Yahweh one turns[fn] from evil.
  • 7 When the ways of a man are pleasing to Yahweh, even his enemies he will cause to make peace with him.
  • 8 Better is little with righteousness than great income with no justice.
  • 9 The mind[fn] of a person will plan his ways, and Yahweh will direct his steps.
  • 10 A decision is upon the lips of a king; in judgment his mouth will not sin.
  • 11 A balance and scales of justice belong to Yahweh; all the weights of the bag are his work.
  • 12 An abomination to kings is doing evil, for by righteousness the throne will be established.
  • 13 The delight of kings are the lips of righteousness, and he who speaks what is upright he will love.
  • 14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but one who is wise will appease[fn] it.
  • 15 In the light of the face of the king there is life, and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.
  • 16 Getting wisdom: how much[fn] better than gold! And getting understanding: it is chosen over[fn] silver.
  • 17 The highway of the upright, it turns from evil, he who guards himself[fn] keeps his way.
  • 18 Before destruction comes pride, and before a fall, a haughty spirit.[fn]
  • 19 Better a lowly spirit with the poor than dividing the spoil with the proud.
  • 20 He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness, and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness.
  • 21 The wise of heart[fn] is called perceptive, but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.
  • 22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,[fn] but the instruction[fn] of fools is folly.
  • 23 The heart[fn] of the wise will make his mouth judicious, and upon his lips, it[fn] will add persuasiveness.
  • 24 Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.
  • 25 There is a way that seems upright to[fn] a man, but its end is the way of death.
  • 26 The life[fn] of a worker works for him, for his hunger[fn] urges him.
  • 27 A man of wickedness concocts evil, and his lips are like a scorching fire.
  • 28 A person of perversity will spread dissent, and he who whispers separates a close friend.
  • 29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.
  • 30 He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things; he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.
  • 31 A crown of glory is gray hair; by a righteous life it is gained.
  • 32 He who is slow to anger[fn] is better than him who is mighty, and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.
  • 33 The lot will be cast into the lap, but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.
  • than a house filled with feasts of strife.
  • 2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully, and in the midst of brothers he will share his inheritance.
  • 3 A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace is for the gold, but Yahweh will test hearts.
  • 4 He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness, and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.
  • 5 He who mocks the poor insults him who made him; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
  • 6 The crown of the elderly are grandchildren ,[fn] and the glory of children is their fathers.
  • 7 Fine speech[fn] is not becoming a fool, still less[fn] is false speech[fn] for a ruler.
  • 8 The bribe is a stone of magic in the eyes of its owner;[fn] everywhere[fn] he will turn, he will prosper.
  • 9 He who forgives an affront fosters love, but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.
  • 10 A rebuke strikes him who understands deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.
  • 11 An evil person will seek only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
  • 12 May a man meet a she-bear robbed of offspring and not a fool in his folly.
  • 13 For he who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
  • 14 Like the release of water is the beginning of strife; before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.
  • 15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, the two of them are both abominations of Yahweh.
  • 16 Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool, in order to buy wisdom where[fn] there is no sense.[fn]
  • 17 The friend loves at all times[fn], but a brother is born for adversity.
  • 18 A person who lacks sense[fn] pledges ;[fn] he becomes security before his neighbor.
  • 19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.
  • 20 He who is crooked of heart[fn] will not find goodness, and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.
  • 21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him; the father of a fool will not rejoice.
  • 22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.
  • 23 The wicked will accept a bribe from the lap, in order to pervert the ways of justice.
  • 24 He who understands sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.[fn]
  • 25 A grief to his father is the child of a fool, and bitterness to her who bore him.
  • 26 Also, imposing a fine on the righteous is not good, nor to flog nobles for uprightness.
  • 27 He who spares his sayings knows knowledge, and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
  • 28 Even a fool who keeps silent shall be considered wise ;[fn] he who closes his lips is intelligent.
  • against all sound judgment he shows contempt.
  • 2 A fool will not take pleasure in understanding, but in expressing his heart.[fn]
  • 3 With the coming of wickedness comes contempt also, and with dishonor, disgrace.
  • 4 Deep waters are words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream is a fountain of wisdom.
  • 5 Being partial to faces of evil is not good, nor to subvert the righteous at the judgment.
  • 6 The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging.
  • 7 The mouth of a fool is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.[fn]
  • 8 The words of a whisper are like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down to inner parts of the body.
  • 9 Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master[fn] of destruction.
  • 10 A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him[fn] the righteous will run and be safe.
  • 11 The wealth of the rich is his strong city ,[fn] and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.
  • 12 In the presence of destruction, the heart[fn] of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.
  • 13 He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself belongs to him as well as[fn] shame.
  • 14 The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it?
  • 15 An intelligent mind[fn] will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
  • 16 The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access.
  • 17 The first in his dispute is deemed righteous, but his neighbor will come and examine him.
  • 18 The lot will put an end to disputes, and between powerful contenders it will decide.
  • 19 A brother who is offended is worse than a city of strength, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortification.
  • 20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach will be satisfied, as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.
  • 21 Death and life are in the power[fn] of the tongue, and those who love her[fn] will eat of her fruit.
  • 22 He who finds a wife[fn] finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.
  • 23 The poor may speak entreaties, but the rich will answer roughly.
  • 24 A man of many friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
  • than one who is perverse in his speech[fn] and is a fool.
  • 2 Also, a life[fn] without knowledge is not good, and he who moves quickly with his feet misses the mark .[fn]
  • 3 As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin, and against Yahweh his heart[fn] will rage.
  • 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor will be left by his friends.
  • 5 A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will not escape.
  • 6 Many will seek favor before the generous, and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.[fn]
  • 7 All the brothers of the poor, if they hate him, how much more will his friends keep away from him.
  • He pursues them with words, and they are gone.[fn]
  • 8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself;[fn] he who guards understanding loves to find good.
  • 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will perish.
  • 10 For a fool living in luxury is not fitting, any more than it is for a slave to rule over princes.
  • 11 The understanding of a person makes him slow to his anger ,[fn] and his glory overlooks offense.
  • 12 The rage of a king growls like a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
  • 13 A foolish child is a ruin to his father, and the quarreling of a woman[fn] is a continuous dripping.
  • 14 A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but from Yahweh comes a woman[fn] who is prudent.
  • 15 Laziness will bring on a deep sleep, and a person[fn] of idleness will suffer hunger.
  • 16 He who guards commandments guards his life;[fn] he who is careless of his ways will be killed.
  • 17 He who lends to Yahweh is he who is kind to the poor, and his benefits he will repay to him.
  • 18 Discipline your child, for there is hope, but on his destruction do not set your desire.[fn]
  • 19 A hot-tempered person pays a penalty; if you rescue him, you will do it yet again.
  • 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you will gain wisdom for your future .[fn]
  • 21 Many plans are in the heart[fn] of a man, but the purpose of Yahweh will be established.
  • 22 The craving of a man is his steadfast loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar .[fn]
  • 23 Fear of Yahweh leads to life; he who is filled with it will rest—he will not suffer harm.
  • 24 A lazy person buries his hand in the dish, and even to his mouth he will not bring it back.
  • 25 The scoffer you shall strike, and the simple, may they learn prudence, and reprove the intelligent and he will gain knowledge.
  • 26 He who does violence to a father, he who chases away a mother, is a child who causes shame and brings reproach.
  • 27 Cease to listen to instruction, my child, and you will stray[fn] from sayings of knowledge.
  • 28 A worthless witness will mock justice, and the mouth of the wicked will devour iniquity.
  • 29 Judgments[fn] are prepared for the scoffers, and flogging for the back of fools.
  • and any who go astray by it are not wise.
  • 2 Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king; he who provokes him forfeits his life.[fn]
  • 3 It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.
  • 4 The lazy person will not plow in season; he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.
  • 5 Deep waters are like purpose in the heart[fn] of a man, and a man of understanding will draw it[fn] out.
  • 6 Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself, but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?
  • 7 He who walks in his integrity is righteous; happy are his children who follow him.
  • 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
  • 9 Who will say “I have made my heart[fn] clean; I am pure from my sin”?
  • 10 Stone and stone, measure and measure, both of them[fn] are an abomination of Yahweh.
  • 11 Even by his acts, a young man[fn] will make himself known, whether his acts are pure and upright.
  • 12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees, Yahweh has made them both .[fn]
  • 13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; open your eyes and have plenty bread.
  • 14 “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say, but when one goes to him, then he will boast.
  • 15 There is gold and many costly stones, but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.
  • 16 Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger, and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.
  • 17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet for the man, but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.
  • 18 A plan[fn] will be established by advice, and with guidance make war.
  • 19 He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip, and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.
  • 20 He who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness .[fn]
  • 21 An inheritance acquired hastily at the beginning[fn] will not be blessed at its end.
  • 22 Do not say “I will repay evil”; wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you.
  • 23 An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight ,[fn] and scales of falsehood are not good.
  • 24 Away from Yahweh are the steps of a strong man, and how will humankind understand his ways?
  • 25 It is a snare to humankind to say rashly “It is holy,” and after vows, to scrutinize.
  • 26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and he will drive a wheel over them.
  • 27 The lamp of Yahweh is the spirit[fn] of humankind, he who searches every innermost part .[fn]
  • 28 Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king, and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.
  • 29 The glory of young men is their strength,[fn] but the beauty of the aged is gray hair.
  • 30 The blows of a wound will cleanse evil, as will[fn] beatings of the innermost part .[fn]
  • wherever[fn] he will desire, he will turn.
  • 2 Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs hearts.[fn]
  • 3 Doing righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
  • 4 Haughtiness of the eyes and pride of heart, the lamp of the wicked are sin.
  • 5 The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance, but all who are hasty, only to want.
  • 6 He who makes treasure by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and seeker[fn] of death.
  • 7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, for they refuse to do justice.
  • 8 Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner, but the pure is upright in his conduct.
  • 9 Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a woman[fn] of contention.
  • 10 The soul[fn] of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor will not find mercy in his eyes.
  • 11 With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise, and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.
  • 12 The righteous observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked to ruin.
  • 13 He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor, he also will cry out and not be heard.
  • 14 A gift in secret[fn] will avert anger ,[fn] and a concealed bribe ,[fn] strong wrath.
  • 15 It is a joy to the righteous to do justice, but dismay to those who do evil.
  • 16 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding, in the assembly of the dead[fn] he will rest.
  • 17 A man of want is he who loves pleasure; he who loves wine and oil[fn] will not become rich.
  • 18 A ransom for the righteous is the wicked, and the faithless instead of the upright.
  • 19 Better to live in a land of wilderness than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.
  • 20 Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise, but the foolish person[fn] will devour them.[fn]
  • 21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
  • 22 To a city of warriors, the wise ascends, and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.
  • 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, he guards his life[fn] from danger.
  • 24 The proud, haughty one: “scoffer” is his name; he acts with arrogance of pride.
  • 25 The craving of a lazy person will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.[fn]
  • 26 All day[fn] he craves a craving, but the righteous will give and not hold back.
  • 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!
  • 28 A false witness will perish, but a man who listens will testify with[fn] success.
  • 29 A wicked man is strong in his countenance ,[fn] but the upright will appoint his paths.
  • 30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.
  • 31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but to Yahweh belongs the victory.
  • favor is better than silver and gold.[fn]
  • 2 Rich and poor have much in common; Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
  • 3 The clever sees danger and hides, but the simple go on and suffer.
  • 4 The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh— wealth and honor and life.
  • 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself[fn] will keep away from them.
  • 6 Train the child concerning his way ;[fn] even when he is old, he will not stray from it.
  • 7 The rich will rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave of the lender .[fn]
  • 8 He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his anger will fail.
  • 9 He who is generous[fn] will be blessed, for he gives to the poor from his own bread.
  • 10 Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out; quarrel and abuse will cease.
  • 11 He who loves purity of heart and hasgracious speech,[fn] his friend is the king.
  • 12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.
  • 13 A lazy person says “A lion in the street! In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!”
  • 14 A deep pit is the mouth of an adulteress ,[fn] he with whom Yahweh is angry will fall there.
  • 15 Folly is bound up in the heart[fn] of a boy;[fn] the rod of discipline will drive it[fn] from him.
  • 16 He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself, or gives to the rich, will come to poverty .[fn]

Words of the Wise

• 17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; you shall apply your heart[fn] to my teaching.
• 18 For it is pleasant if you guard them within you ;[fn] together they will be ready upon your lips.
• 19 In order for your trust to be in Yahweh, I have made them known to you today[fn]—even[fn] you.
• 20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings with admonitions and knowledge?
• 21 In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth— in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.
• 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;
• 23 For Yahweh will plead their case and despoil those who despoil them of life.[fn]
• 24 Do not befriend an owner[fn] of anger ,[fn] and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;
• 25 lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself.[fn]
• 26 Do not be with those who give a pledge[fn] by becoming[fn] surety.
• 27 If there is nothing for you to pay,[fn] why will he take your bed from under you?
• 28 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker which your ancestors[fn] made.
• 29 A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see: before kings, he will serve;
• he will not serve before the commoners.
• you shall surely observe what is before you,
• 2 and you shall put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite .[fn]
• 3 Do not desire his delicacies, for[fn] it is food of deception.
• 4 Do not tire in order to become rich; out of your understanding, may you desist.
• 5 Your eyes will alight[fn] on it, but there is nothing to it, for suddenly it will make for itself wings
• like an eagle and it will be exhausted in the heavens.
• 6 Do not eat the bread of the stingy ,[fn] and do not desire his delicacies.
• 7 For, like hair in his throat ,[fn] so it is.[fn] “Eat and drink!” he will say to you,
• but his heart will not be with you.
• 8 Your morsel you have eaten, you will vomit it up, and you will waste your pleasant words.
• 9 In the ears of a fool do not speak, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
• 10 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker, and on the fields of orphans do not encroach;
• 11 For their redeemer is strong, he himself will plead their cause against you.
• 12 Apply your heart[fn] to instruction, and your ear to sayings of knowledge.
• 13 Do not withhold discipline from a child, if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die.
• 14 As for you, with the rod you shall beat him, and his life[fn] you will save from Sheol.[fn]
• 15 My child, if your heart[fn] is wise, my heart will be glad—even me!
• 16 And my insides[fn] will rejoice when your lips speak what is upright.
• 17 May your heart[fn] not envy the sinners, but live in fear of Yahweh all day .[fn]
• 18 Surely[fn] there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
• 19 You, my child, hear and be wise, and direct your heart[fn] on the road.
• 20 Do not be among drinkers of wine, among gluttonous eaters of their meat .[fn]
• 21 For the drunkard and gluttonous, they will become poor, and with rags, drowsiness will clothe them.
• 22 Listen to your father—he who gave you life ,[fn] and do not despise your mother when[fn] she is old.
• 23 Buy truth and do not sell it, wisdom and instruction and understanding.
• 24 The father of the righteous will surely rejoice; he who bears a wise person will be happy with him.
• 25 May your father and your mother be glad, and may she who bore you rejoice.
• 26 My child, may you give your heart[fn] to me, and may your eyes delight in my ways.
• 27 For a deep pit is a prostitute,[fn] and a narrow well is an adulteress .[fn]
• 28 She is also like a robber lying in wait, and the faithless among mankind she increases.
• 29 To whom is woe? To whom is sorrow? To whom are quarrels? To whom is complaint? To whom are wounds without cause? To whom is redness of the eyes?
• 30 To those who linger over wine, to those who come to try mixed wine.
• 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles[fn] on the cup,
• going down smoothly.
• 32 In the end ,[fn] it will bite like a serpent, and it will sting like an adder.
• 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart[fn] will speak perverse things.
• 34 And you will be like him who lies down in the heart of the sea, and like him who lies down on top of a mast.
• 35 “They struck me; I was not hurt. They beat me; I did not know it. When I will awake, I will continue; I will seek it again.”
• and do not desire to be with them.
• 2 For their minds will devise violence, and their lips will speak mischief.
• 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.
• 4 And by knowledge, rooms are filled with all riches, precious and pleasant.
• 5 The warrior of wisdom is in strength, and a man of knowledge is strong in power.
• 6 For with wise guidance you shall make war for yourself, and victory is in an abundance of counsel.
• 7 Wisdom is too high for fools; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
• 8 He who plans to do evil for[fn] himself, they will call him “master[fn] of mischief.”
• 9 Devising folly is a sin, and an abomination to humankind is a scoffer.
• 10 If you faint on the day of adversity, little is your strength.
• 11 Rescue those who are led away to the death and those who stagger to the slaughter. If you hold back,
• 12 if you say, “Look, we do not know this,” does not he who weighs hearts perceive it?
• And he who keeps your soul,[fn]
• he knows and will repay humankind according to his deeds.
• 13 My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the dripping of the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
• 14 Thus know wisdom for the sake of your soul,[fn] if you find it, then there is a future,
• and your hope will not be cut off.
• 15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do not do violence to his dwelling place.
• 16 For seven times the righteous will fall, but he will rise, but the wicked will be overthrown by calamity.
• 17 While your enemies are falling, do not rejoice; when he trips himself, may your heart[fn] not be glad
• 18 lest Yahweh see and it be evil in his eyes, and turn his anger away from him.
• 19 Do not fret because of the evildoers; do not envy the wicked.
• 20 For there will not be a future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will die out.
• 21 Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king; with those who change, do not associate.
• 22 For suddenly their disaster will come, and the ruin of both of them ,[fn] who knows?
• 23 These sayings are also for the wise: Partiality[fn] in judgment is not good.
• 24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are righteous,” the people will curse him; the nations will abhor him.
• 25 But they who rebuke will have delight, and upon them blessings of goodness will come.
• 26 He will kiss the lips, he who gives an honest answer.
• 27 Prepare your work in the street and get it ready for yourself in the field; afterward, then[fn] you shall build your house.
• 28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor nor deceive with your lips.
• 29 Do not say, “Just as he has done to me, so shall I do to him; I will pay back the man according to his deed.”
• 30 I passed by the field of a lazy person, and over the vineyard of a person lacking sense ;[fn]
• 31 and behold, it was overgrown—all of it was covered with thorns, its surface with nettles, and its stone wall[fn] was broken down.
• 32 Then I myself saw and my heart[fn] considered; I looked, and I took hold of instruction:
• 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest,
• 34 and your poverty will come running, and your lack like an armed warrior.

More Proverbs of Solomon

• 2 The glory of God[fn] conceals things, but the glory of kings searches out things.
• 3 As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so is the heart[fn] of kings—there is no searching.
• 4 Remove the dross from silver, and it will become a vessel for the smith.
• 5 Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.[fn]
• 6 Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
• 7 For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,” than he humble you before a noble.
• What your eyes have seen,
  • 8 do not hastily bring out to court, for[fn] what will you do at its end,
  • when your neighbor puts you to shame?
  • 9 Argue your argument with your neighbor himself, the secret of another do not disclose,
  • 10 lest he who hears shame you and your ill repute will not end.
  • 11 Apples of gold in a setting of silver is a matter spoken at[fn] its proper time.
  • 12 A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.
  • 13 Like the cold of snow on a day[fn] of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
  • and the soul[fn] of his master is refreshed.[fn]
  • 14 Like clouds and wind when there is no rain, so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.
  • 15 With patience[fn] a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.[fn]
  • 16 If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.
  • 17 Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor, lest he become weary of you and hate you.
  • 18 Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
  • 19 A bad tooth and a lame foot is the trust of a faithless person in a time[fn] of trouble.
  • 20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,[fn] is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
  • 21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread, and if thirsty, let him drink water.
  • 22 For coals of fire you will heap upon his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
  • 23 The wind of the north produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.
  • 24 Better to live upon the corner of a roof than with a woman[fn] of contention and in a shared house.
  • 25 Like cold water[fn] upon a weary soul,[fn] so too is good news from a distant place.
  • 26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.
  • 27 To eat much honey is not good, nor is seeking one’s honor[fn] honorable.
  • 28 A breached city where there is no wall is like a man who has no[fn] self-control for his spirit.
  • so honor is not fitting for a fool.
  • 2 Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
  • 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
  • 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you become like him—even you.
  • 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
  • 6 Like cutting off feet or drinking violence, so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
  • 7 Like legs that hang limp from a lame person, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
  • 8 Like binding a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
  • 9 Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
  • 10 Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
  • 11 Like a dog returning to his vomit is a fool reverting to his folly.
  • 12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
  • 13 A lazy person says “A lion is in the road! A lion among the streets!”
  • 14 The door turns on its hinge, and a lazy person on his bed.
  • 15 A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
  • 16 A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.
  • 17 Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.
  • 18 Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
  • 19 so is a man who deceives his neighbor, but says “Am I not joking?”
  • 20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
  • 21 As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire, so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
  • 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
  • 23 Like impure silver[fn] which overlays an earthen vessel, so are smooth lips and an evil heart[fn].
  • 24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but inside[fn] he will harbor deceit.
  • 25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations are in his heart.
  • 26 Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
  • 27 He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
  • 28 A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.
  • for you do not know what the day will bring.
  • 2 May another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.
  • 3 Heavy is a stone and weighty is sand, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
  • 4 Cruel is wrath and overwhelming is anger, but who will stand before jealousy?
  • 5 Better a rebuke that is open than a love that is hidden.
  • 6 The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.
  • 7 An appetite[fn] that is sated spurns honey, but to an appetite[fn] that is ravenous, all bitterness is sweet.
  • 8 Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is a man who strays from his place.
  • 9 Perfume and incense will gladden a heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice .[fn]
  • 10 As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake them, and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity.
  • Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.
  • 11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.
  • 12 When the clever sees danger, he hides; the simple go on and suffer.
  • 13 Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger, and to an adulteress[fn]— so take his pledge.
  • 14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
  • a curse will be reckoned to him.
  • 15 Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain and a woman[fn] of contention are alike.
  • 16 In restraining her, he restrains wind,[fn] and his right hand will grasp oil[fn].
  • 17 As iron sharpens[fn] iron, so one man sharpens another .[fn]
  • 18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master[fn] will be honored.
  • 19 As the waters reflect face to face ,[fn] so the heart of a person reflects the person.
  • 20 Sheol[fn] and Abaddon[fn] will not be satisfied, and the eyes of a person will not be satisfied either.
  • 21 A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace for the gold, but a man is tested by the mouth of him who praises him.
  • 22 If you crush a fool in the mortar with the pestle along with[fn] the crushed grain, it will not drive folly from upon him.
  • 23 You will surely know the condition[fn] of your flock; your heart[fn] attends to the herds.
  • 24 For riches are not forever, nor a crown for generation after generation.
  • 25 When the grass is gone, then green growth will appear, and the herbs of the mountains will be gathered.
  • 26 Lambs will be your clothing, and goats the price of the field.
  • 27 And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and the nourishment[fn] of your maidservants.
  • but the righteous is bold like a lion.
  • 2 By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase, but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
  • 3 A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished is a beating rain that leaves[fn] no food.
  • 4 Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked, but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
  • 5 Men of evil do not understand justice, but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.[fn]
  • 6 Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
  • 7 He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding, but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
  • 8 He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
  • 9 He who turns his ear from listening to instruction, even his prayer is an abomination.
  • 10 He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil, into his pits he will fall.
  • But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.
  • 11 A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes, but the intelligent poor sees through him.
  • 12 When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory, but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.
  • 13 He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.
  • 14 Happy is the person who fears continuously, but he who is stubborn of heart,[fn] will fall into calamity.
  • 15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
  • 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is[fn] a cruel oppressor, but those who hate unjust gain will have long[fn] days.
  • 17 A person who is burdened with the blood of another ,[fn] until death he will flee;
  • do not take hold of him.
  • 18 He who walks in integrity will be safe, but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.
  • 19 He who tills his ground will have plenty bread, but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
  • 20 A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings, but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.
  • 21 Showing partiality[fn] is not good, and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.
  • 22 He who hurries for wealth is a man with an evil eye ,[fn] but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.
  • 23 He who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
  • 24 He who robs his father and his mother and says, “There is no crime,” is partner to a man who corrupts.
  • 25 The greedy person[fn] will stir up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
  • 26 He who trusts in his own heart[fn] is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.
  • 27 For he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking, but for he[fn] who turns his eyes, there are many curses.
  • 28 With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden, and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.
  • suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing.
  • 2 When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.
  • 3 A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad, but the friend of prostitutes[fn] will squander his wealth.
  • 4 By justice a king gives stability to a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it.
  • 5 A strong man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.
  • 6 In transgression, an evil man is a snare, but the righteous will sing and rejoice.[fn]
  • 7 The righteous knows the case of the poor, but the wicked does not understand knowledge.
  • 8 Men of scoffing set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
  • 9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule,[fn] but there is no relief.
  • 10 Men of blood hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.[fn]
  • 11 A fool gives all his breath,[fn] but the wise holds back in quiet.
  • 12 A ruler listening to a word of falsehood, all his officials are wicked.
  • 13 The poor and a man of oppression have this in common: Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both .[fn]
  • 14 A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever.
  • 15 As for a rod and reproof, they[fn] will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.
  • 16 With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase, but the righteous will look on his downfall.
  • 17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest, and they will give delight to your soul.[fn]
  • 18 When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.
  • 19 By words, a servant is not disciplined, for he will understand, but there is no giving heed.
  • 20 You see a man who is hasty in his words: there is more hope for a fool than him.
  • 21 He who pampers his servant from childhood, arrogance will be his end .[fn]
  • 22 A man of anger will stir strife, and the owner of anger, much transgression.
  • 23 The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.
  • 24 Being a partner with a thief is hating one’s life;[fn] a curse he will hear, but not disclose.
  • 25 The fear of a person will lay a snare, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be secure.
  • 26 Many are those who seek the favor[fn] of a ruler, but from Yahweh one obtains justice .[fn]
  • 27 A man of injustice is an abomination to the righteous, but the upright[fn] is an abomination to the wicked.

The Oracle of Agur

• Thus says the man to Ithiel, to Ithiel, and Ucal:[fn]
• 2 Certainly I am more stupid than a man, and the understanding of humankind is not for me.
• 3 And I have not learned wisdom, nor will I know knowledge of the Holy One.[fn]
• 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of his hand?
• Who has wrapped water in a[fn] garment?
• Who has established all the ends of the earth?
• What is his name and what is the name of his child?
• For surely you know.
• 5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield for him who takes refuge in him.
• 6 Do not add to his words lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
• 7 Two things I ask from you; do not deny me before I die:
• 8 Keep falsehood and a lying word[fn] far from me; do not give me poverty or wealth;
• provide me with food only for my need.
• 9 Or else I will be satisfied and will deny him and say “Who is Yahweh?”
• Or[fn] I will be poor and will steal
  • and profane the name of my God.
  • 10 Do not slander a servant to his master, or else he will curse you and you will be guilty.
  • 11 There is a generation that will curse its father, and its mother it will not bless.
  • 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, but from its filthiness it will not be cleansed.
  • 13 There is a generation—how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids they will lift.
  • 14 There is a generation whose teeth are swords, and its jawbones, knives,
• in order to devour the poor from the earth[fn]
  • and the needy from humankind.
  • 15 For the leech, there are two daughters; “Give, give!” they cry.
• As for three of these, they are not satisfied;
  • as for four, they do not say enough.
  • 16 Sheol[fn] and barrenness of womb, the land is not satisfied with water,
  • and fire does not say “enough!”
  • 17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns the obedience of a mother—
• the ravens of the valley will peck it out,
  • and the offspring of vultures will eat it.
  • 18 Three of these are too wonderful for me, and four, I do not understand them:
  • 19 the way of the eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock,
  • the way of a ship in the heart of the sea,
  • and the way of a man with a young woman.
  • 20 This is the way of a woman committing adultery: she eats and wipes her mouth,
  • and says “I have not done wrong.”
  • 21 Under three things the earth[fn] trembles, and under four, it is not able to bear up:
  • 22 under a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is satisfied with food;
  • 23 under an unloved woman when she gets married, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.
  • 24 There are four small things on the earth, and they are exceedingly wise :[fn]
  • 25 The ants are a people who are not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
  • 26 the badgers are a people who are not mighty, yet they set their house on the rock;
  • 27 there is no king for the locust, yet it marches in rank;
  • 28 a lizard you can seize with hands, yet it is in palaces of kings.
  • 29 There are three things that are magnificent of stride, and four that are magnificent when moving:
  • 30 a mighty lion among the beasts,[fn] but he will not turn back from any face ;[fn]
  • 31 a strutting rooster or he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.
  • 32 If you have been foolish by exalting yourself, and if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth.
  • 33 For pressing milk produces curd, and pressing the nose produces blood,
  • so pressing anger[fn] produces strife.

The Oracle of King Lemuel

• that his mother taught him:
• 2 What, my son? And what, my son in my womb? And what, son of my vows?
• 3 Do not give your strength to the women, and your ways to destroy kings.
• 4 It is not for the kings, O Lemuel; drinking wine is not for the kings,
• nor is strong drink for rulers.
• 5 Or else he will drink and forget what has been decreed, and he will pervert the rights[fn] of all the afflicted .[fn]
• 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress .[fn]
• 7 He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember any more.
• 8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights[fn] of all the needy .[fn]
• 9 Open your mouth, judge righteousness, and defend the poor and needy.

An Excellent Woman[fn]

• 10 A woman[fn] of excellence,[fn] who will find? For her worth is far more than precious jewels.
• 11 The heart of her husband[fn] trusts in her, and gain he will not lack.
• 12 She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life.
• 13 She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of her hands .[fn]
• 14 She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food;[fn]
• 15 And she arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household,
• and tasks to her servant girls.
• 16 She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of her hand[fn] she plants a vineyard.
• 17 She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong.
• 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good; her lamp does not go out in the night.
• 19 Her hands she puts onto the distaff,[fn] and her palms hold a spindle.
• 20 Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches out to the needy.
• 21 She does not fear for her house when it snows, for her entire household[fn] is clothed in crimson.
• 22 She makes for herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
• 23 Her husband[fn] is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land.
• 24 Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants.
• 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the future .[fn]
• 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue.
• 27 She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.
• 28 Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband[fn] also, and he praises her;
• 29 “Many daughters have done excellence,[fn] but you surpass[fn] all of them.”
• 30 Charm[fn] is deceit and beauty[fn] is vain;[fn] but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised.
• 31 Give to her from the fruit of her hand, and may they praise her works in the city gates.