Proverbs 3
1My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2for they will add to you length of days,
years of life, and peace.
3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones.
9Honor the LORD with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase;
10so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline,
neither be weary of his correction;
12for whom the LORD loves, he corrects,
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding.
14For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her.
19By wisdom the LORD founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.
21My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck.
23Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26for the LORD will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you.
29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
since he dwells securely by you.
30Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm.
31Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways.
32For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD,
but his friendship is with the upright.
33The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble.
35The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.
Proverbs 4
1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
Pay attention and know understanding;
2for I give you sound learning.
Don’t forsake my law.
3For I was a son to my father,
tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words.
Keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom.
Get understanding.
Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you.
Love her, and she will keep you.
7Wisdom is supreme.
Get wisdom.
Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9She will give to your head a garland of grace.
She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.
The years of your life will be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom.
I have led you in straight paths.
12When you go, your steps will not be hampered.
When you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction.
Don’t let her go.
Keep her, for she is your life.
14Don’t enter into the path of the wicked.
Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, and don’t pass by it.
Turn from it, and pass on.
16For they don’t sleep unless they do evil.
Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light
that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness.
They don’t know what they stumble over.
My son, attend to my words.
Turn your ear to my sayings.
21Let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep them in the center of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and health to their whole body.
23Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth.
Put corrupt lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Fix your gaze directly before you.
26Make the path of your feet level.
Let all of your ways be established.
27Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left.
Remove your foot from evil.
Proverbs 5
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
Turn your ear to my understanding,
2that you may maintain discretion,
that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey.
Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,
and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death.
Her steps lead straight to Sheol.
6She gives no thought to the way of life.
Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.
Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8Remove your way far from her.
Don’t come near the door of her house,
9lest you give your honor to others,
and your years to the cruel one;
10lest strangers feast on your wealth,
and your labors enrich another man’s house.
11You will groan at your latter end,
when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12and say, “How I have hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof.
13I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers,
nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
among the gathered assembly.”
Drink water out of your own cistern,
running water out of your own well.
16Should your springs overflow in the streets,
streams of water in the public squares?
17Let them be for yourself alone,
not for strangers with you.
18Let your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19A loving doe and a graceful deer—
let her breasts satisfy you at all times.
Be captivated always with her love.
20For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress?
Why embrace the bosom of another?
21For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes.
He examines all his paths.
22The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him.
The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23He will die for lack of instruction.
In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
Proverbs 6
1My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor,
if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
2you are trapped by the words of your mouth;
you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
3Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself,
since you have come into the hand of your neighbor.
Go, humble yourself.
Press your plea with your neighbor.
4Give no sleep to your eyes,
nor slumber to your eyelids.
5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Go to the ant, you sluggard.
Consider her ways, and be wise;
7which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8provides her bread in the summer,
and gathers her food in the harvest.
9How long will you sleep, sluggard?
When will you arise out of your sleep?
10A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep—
11so your poverty will come as a robber,
and your scarcity as an armed man.
A worthless person, a man of iniquity,
is he who walks with a perverse mouth,
13who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,
who motions with his fingers,
14in whose heart is perverseness,
who devises evil continually,
who always sows discord.
15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly.
He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
There are six things which the LORD hates;
yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
17arrogant eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19a false witness who utters lies,
and he who sows discord among brothers.
My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21Bind them continually on your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
22When you walk, it will lead you.
When you sleep, it will watch over you.
When you awake, it will talk with you.
23For the commandment is a lamp,
and the law is light.
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24to keep you from the immoral woman,
from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.
25Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart,
neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
26For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread.
The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
27Can a man scoop fire into his lap,
and his clothes not be burned?
28Or can one walk on hot coals,
and his feet not be scorched?
29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife.
Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
30Men don’t despise a thief
if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry,
31but if he is found, he shall restore seven times.
He shall give all the wealth of his house.
32He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding.
He who does it destroys his own soul.
33He will get wounds and dishonor.
His reproach will not be wiped away.
34For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband.
He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
35He won’t regard any ransom,
neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
Proverbs 7
1My son, keep my words.
Lay up my commandments within you.
2Keep my commandments and live!
Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3Bind them on your fingers.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.”
Call understanding your relative,
5that they may keep you from the strange woman,
from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6For at the window of my house,
I looked out through my lattice.
7I saw among the simple ones.
I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
8passing through the street near her corner,
he went the way to her house,
9in the twilight, in the evening of the day,
in the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute,
and with crafty intent.
11She is loud and defiant.
Her feet don’t stay in her house.
12Now she is in the streets, now in the squares,
and lurking at every corner.
13So she caught him, and kissed him.
With an impudent face she said to him:
14“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me.
Today I have paid my vows.
15Therefore I came out to meet you,
to diligently seek your face,
and I have found you.
16I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,
with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning.
Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
19For my husband isn’t at home.
He has gone on a long journey.
20He has taken a bag of money with him.
He will come home at the full moon.”
21With persuasive words, she led him astray.
With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
22He followed her immediately,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
as a fool stepping into a noose.
23Until an arrow strikes through his liver,
as a bird hurries to the snare,
and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
Now therefore, sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25Don’t let your heart turn to her ways.
Don’t go astray in her paths,
26for she has thrown down many wounded.
Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
27Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the rooms of death.
Proverbs 8
1Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4“I call to you men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
7For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
15By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule,
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of justice,
21that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
24When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was born;
26while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
29when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
31rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men.
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it.
34Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
35For whoever finds me finds life,
and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 9
1Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
2She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
3She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest places of the city:
4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5“Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding.”
One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone will bear it.
The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17“Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Proverbs 10
1The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father;
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry,
but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,
but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
5He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7The memory of the righteous is blessed,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise in heart accept commandments,
but a chattering fool will fall.
9He who walks blamelessly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10One who winks with the eye causes sorrow,
but a chattering fool will fall.
11The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all wrongs.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14Wise men lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16The labor of the righteous leads to life.
The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
17He is in the way of life who heeds correction,
but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
18He who hides hatred has lying lips.
He who utters a slander is a fool.
19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience,
but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21The lips of the righteous feed many,
but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22The LORD’s blessing brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.
23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
24What the wicked fear will overtake them,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more;
but the righteous stand firm forever.
26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27The fear of the LORD prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hope of the wicked will perish.
29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright,
but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Proverbs 11
1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but accurate weights are his delight.
2When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them,
but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7When a wicked man dies, hope perishes,
and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked takes his place.
9With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.
When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,
but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,
but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16A gracious woman obtains honor,
but violent men obtain riches.
17The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18Wicked people earn deceitful wages,
but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19He who is truly righteous gets life.
He who pursues evil gets death.
20Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good.
The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is one who scatters, and increases yet more.
There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25The liberal soul shall be made fat.
He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26People curse someone who withholds grain,
but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.
He who is wise wins souls.
31Behold, the righteous shall be repaid on the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Proverbs 12
1Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2A good man shall obtain favor from the LORD,
but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.
3A man shall not be established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7The wicked are overthrown, and are no more,
but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8A man shall be commended according to his wisdom,
but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.
9Better is he who is little known, and has a servant,
than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10A righteous man respects the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread,
but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
12The wicked desires the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.
13An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips,
but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
14A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but he who is wise listens to counsel.
16A fool shows his annoyance the same day,
but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
17He who is truthful testifies honestly,
but a false witness lies.
18There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise heals.
19Truth’s lips will be established forever,
but a lying tongue is only momentary.
20Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
21No mischief shall happen to the righteous,
but the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who do the truth are his delight.
23A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
24The hands of the diligent ones shall rule,
but laziness ends in slave labor.
25Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
but a kind word makes it glad.
26A righteous person is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27The slothful man doesn’t roast his game,
but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
28In the way of righteousness is life;
in its path there is no death.
Proverbs 13
1A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,
but the unfaithful crave violence.
3He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,
but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
5A righteous man hates lies,
but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
6Righteousness guards the way of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.
There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
but the poor hear no threats.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is with people who take advice.
11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,
to turn from the snares of death.
15Good understanding wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
but a fool exposes folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
18Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,
but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
19Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning from evil.
20One who walks with wise men grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21Misfortune pursues sinners,
but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24One who spares the rod hates his son,
but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul,
but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
Proverbs 14
1Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,
but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5A truthful witness will not lie,
but a false witness pours out lies.
6A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7Stay away from a foolish man,
for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9Fools mock at making atonement for sins,
but among the upright there is good will.
10The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;
he will not share these with a stranger.
11The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
13Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,
and mirth may end in heaviness.
14The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;
likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15A simple man believes everything,
but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16A wise man fears and shuns evil,
but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,
and a crafty man is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow down before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor,
but the rich person has many friends.
21He who despises his neighbor sins,
but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22Don’t they go astray who plot evil?
But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23In all hard work there is profit,
but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25A truthful witness saves souls,
but a false witness is deceitful.
26In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress,
and he will be a refuge for his children.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning people from the snares of death.
28In the multitude of people is the king’s glory,
but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30The life of the body is a heart at peace,
but envy rots the bones.
31He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32The wicked is brought down in his calamity,
but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely,
but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.