Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
The aproverbs of Solomon.
bA wise son makes a father glad,
But ca foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 aTreasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3 Yahweh awill not allow the soul of the righteous to hunger,
But He bwill push away the craving of the wicked.
4 Poor is he who works with a slack hand,
But the ahand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts insightfully,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
6 aBlessings are on the head of the righteous,
But bthe mouth of the wicked covers up violence.
7 The aremembrance of the righteous is blessed,
But bthe name of the wicked will rot.
8 The awise of heart will receive commandments,
But an ignorant fool of loose lips will be ruined.
9 He awho walks in integrity walks securely,
But bhe who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
10 He awho winks the eye causes pain,
And ban ignorant fool of loose lips will be ruined.
11 The amouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But bthe mouth of the wicked covers up violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But alove covers all transgressions.
13 On athe lips of the one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
But ba rod is for the back of him who lacks a heart of wisdom.
14 Wise men astore up knowledge,
But bthe mouth of the ignorant fool draws ruin near.
15 The arich man’s wealth is his strong city,
The bruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The awages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 He ais on the path of life who keeps discipline,
But he who forsakes reproof makes himself wander about.
18 He awho covers up hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads a bad report is a fool.
19 When there are amany words, transgression is unavoidable,
But bhe who holds back his lips has insight.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as achoice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The alips of the righteous feed many,
But ignorant fools bdie for lack of a heart of wisdom.
22 It is the ablessing of Yahweh that makes rich,
And He adds no pain with it.
23 Doing wickedness is like alaughing to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of discernment.
24 What athe wicked dreads will come upon him,
But the bdesire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the awhirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the brighteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes,
So is the asluggard to those who send him.
27 The afear of Yahweh prolongs life,
But the byears of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The aexpectation of the righteous is gladness,
But the bhope of the wicked will perish.
29 The away of Yahweh is a stronghold to the one with integrity,
But bruin to the workers of iniquity.
30 The arighteous will never be shaken,
But bthe wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The amouth of the righteous bears wisdom,
But the tongue of bperversions will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know awhat is acceptable,
But the bmouth of the wicked what is perverse.
A adeceptive balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
But a bjust weight is His delight.
2 When aarrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.
3 The aintegrity of the upright will lead them,
But the bcrookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 aWealth will not profit in the day of wrath,
But brighteousness will deliver from death.
5 The arighteousness of the blameless will make his way straight,
But bthe wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will abe captured by their own desire.
7 When a wicked man dies, his ahope will perish,
And the bexpectation of vigorous men perishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from distress,
But the wicked takes his place.
9 With his amouth the godless man corrupts his neighbor,
But through knowledge the brighteous will be rescued.
10 When it agoes well with the righteous, the city exults,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is raised up,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks a heart of wisdom,
But a man of discernment keeps silent.
13 He awho goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But he who is faithful in spirit bconceals a matter.
14 Where there is no aguidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is salvation.
15 If one becomes a aguarantor for a stranger, he will surely suffer,
But he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 A agracious woman holds fast to glory,
But ruthless men hold fast to riches.
17 The man of alovingkindness deals bountifully with his soul,
But the cruel man brings trouble on his flesh.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who asows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in arighteousness will attain to life,
And bhe who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 Those with a crooked heart are an abomination to Yahweh,
But those of a ablameless way are His bdelight.
21 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the seed of the righteous will escape.
22 As a aring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who turns away from discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the ahope of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who holds back what is rightly due, and yet results only in want.
25 The soul that ablesses will be enriched,
And he who bwaters will himself be watered.
26 He who withholds grain, the apeople will curse him,
But bblessing will be on the head of him who csells it.
27 He who earnestly seeks good seeks favor,
But ahe who searches for evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who atrusts in his riches will fall,
But bthe righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 He who atroubles his own house will binherit wind,
And cthe ignorant fool will be a slave to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is aa tree of life,
And bhe who is wise wins souls.
31 If athe righteous will be repaid in the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is senseless.
2 A agood man will obtain favor from Yahweh,
But a man of evil schemes He will condemn.
3 A man will anot be established by wickedness,
But the root of the brighteous will not be shaken.
4 An aexcellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like brottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The awords of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the bmouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The awicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the bhouse of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse heart will be despised.
9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A arighteous man knows the value of the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 He awho cultivates his land will be satisfied with bread,
But he who pursues empty things lacks a heart of wisdom.
12 The awicked man desires a stronghold of evil men,
But the root of the righteous bgives fruit.
13 The snare of an evil man is in the transgression of his lips,
But the arighteous man will come out from distress.
14 A man will be asatisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the good bdeed of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The away of an ignorant fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 An aignorant fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals disgrace.
17 He who breathes out truth declares what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who aspeaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the btongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a alying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have gladness.
21 aNo misfortune befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with calamity.
22 aLying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,
But doers of faithfulness are His delight.
23 A aprudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be aput to forced labor.
25 aAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a bgood word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked makes them wander about.
27 A slack handed man does not roast his prey,
But the wealth of a man is aprecious for the diligent.
28 aIn the path of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
A awise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a bscoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he aeats what is good,
But the soul of the treacherous desires bviolence.
3 The one who aguards his mouth keeps his soul;
The one who bopens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is enriched.
5 A righteous man ahates a lying word,
But a wicked man bacts odiously and is humiliated.
6 Righteousness aguards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the sinner.
7 There is one who apretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be bpoor, but has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
9 The alight of the righteous is glad,
But the blamp of the wicked goes out.
10 With arrogance comes only quarreling,
But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.
11 Wealth obtained from empty effort dwindles,
But the one who gathers with his hand abounds.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The one who adespises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be brewarded.
14 The instruction of the wise is a afountain of life,
To turn aside from the bsnares of death.
15 aGood insight gives grace,
But the way of the treacherous is unrelenting.
16 Every aprudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool spreads out folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into evil,
But aa faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who aneglects discipline,
But he who keeps reproof will be honored.
19 Desire realized is pleasant to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 aHe who walks with the wise will be wise,
But the friend of fools will suffer harm.
21 aEvil pursues sinners,
But the brighteous are repaid with good.
22 A good man aleaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the bwealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 aAbundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who aholds back his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him bdisciplines him diligently.
25 The arighteous eats to the satisfaction of his soul,
But the stomach of the bwicked lacks.
The awise woman builds her house,
But the woman of folly tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who awalks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,
But he who is bdevious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the ignorant fool is a rod of lofty pride,
But athe lips of the wise will keep them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A afaithful witness will not lie,
But a bfalse witness cbreathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7 Leave the apresence of a fool,
As you have not known lips of knowledge there.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But athe folly of fools is deceit.
9 Ignorant fools scoff at guilt,
But aamong the upright there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own abitterness,
And a stranger does not share its gladness.
11 The ahouse of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There ais a way which seems right to a man,
But its bend is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the aend of joy may be grief.
14 The one who turns back in his heart will be satisfied with his aways,
But a good man will bbe satisfied with his.
15 The simple believes everything,
But the prudent one discerns his steps.
16 A wise man fears and aturns away from evil,
But a fool gets angry and feels secure.
17 A quick‑tempered man acts in folly,
And a man of evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The aevil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The apoor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21 He who adespises his neighbor sins,
But how bblessed is he who is gracious to the poor.
22 Will they not wander in error who adevise evil?
But lovingkindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all painful labor there is profit,
But mere words from the lips lead only to want.
24 The acrown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is folly.
25 A truthful witness delivers souls,
But he who abreathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the afear of Yahweh there is strong security,
And his children will have refuge.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s splendor,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 He who is aslow to anger has great discernment,
But he who is quick‑tempered raises up folly.
30 A atranquil heart is life to the body,
But jealousy is brottenness to the bones.
31 He awho oppresses the poor reproaches bhis Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is athrust down by his own evil,
But the brighteous takes refuge even in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the midst of fools it is merely made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a aservant who acts insightfully,
But his fury is toward him who acts shamefully.
A agentle answer turns away wrath,
But a bharsh word stirs up anger.
2 The atongue of the wise makes knowledge look good,
But the bmouth of fools pours forth folly.
3 The aeyes of Yahweh are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
But perversion in it breaks the spirit.
5 An ignorant fool spurns his father’s discipline,
But he who keeps reproof is prudent.
6 The house of the arighteous has much treasure,
But in the income of the wicked there is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The asacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
But bthe prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
But He loves one who apursues righteousness.
10 Grievous discipline is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
11 aSheol and Abaddon lie open before Yahweh,
How much more the bhearts of the sons of men!
12 A ascoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
13 A aglad heart makes a face look good,
But when the heart is bpained, the cspirit is broken.
14 The aheart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But a good heart has a continual feast.
16 aBetter is a little with the fear of Yahweh
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 aBetter is a dish of vegetables where there is love
Than a bfattened ox and hatred in it.
18 A ahot‑tempered man stirs up strife,
But the bslow to anger cquiets a dispute.
19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A awise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man bdespises his mother.
21 Folly is gladness to him who lacks a heart of wisdom,
But a man of discernment awalks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they succeed.
23 A aman has gladness in an apt answer,
And how good is a timely bword!
24 The apath of life leads upward for the one who has insight
That he may turn away from Sheol below.
25 Yahweh will atear down the house of the proud,
But He will bcause the boundary of the cwidow to stand.
26 Evil thoughts are an abomination to Yahweh,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who is agreedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who bhates gifts of bribery will live.
28 The heart of the righteous aponders how to answer,
But the bmouth of the wicked pours forth evil things.
29 Yahweh is afar from the wicked,
But He bhears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes gladden the heart;
A good report puts fat on the bones.
31 He whose ear listens to the life‑giving reproof
Will lodge among the wise.
32 He who aneglects discipline bdespises his soul,
But he who clistens to reproof acquires a heart of wisdom.
33 The fear of Yahweh is the discipline leading to wisdom,
And before glory comes humility.
The aplans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight,
But aYahweh weighs the motives.
3 aCommit your works to Yahweh
And your plans will be established.
4 Yahweh ahas made everything for its own purpose,
Even the bwicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By alovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the bfear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
He amakes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great produce with injustice.
9 The heart of aman plans his way,
But bYahweh directs his steps.
10 A divine adecision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.
11 A ajust balance and scales belong to Yahweh;
All the weights of the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For in righteousness a athrone is established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks uprightly is loved.
14 The wrath of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will atone for it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the alate rain.
16 How much abetter it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The ahighway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
He who guards his way keeps his soul.
18 aPride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be ahumble in spirit with the lowly
Than to bdivide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who considers the word will afind good,
And how bblessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
21 The awise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of lips bincreases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of ignorant fools is folly.
23 The aheart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
24 aPleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and bhealing to the bones.
25 aThere is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his mouth urges him on.
27 A avile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like bscorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
29 A man of violence aentices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 aGray hair is a crown of beauty;
It bis found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.
33 The alot is cast into the lap,
But its every bjudgment is from Yahweh.
aBetter is a dry morsel and tranquility with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A slave who acts insightfully will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The arefining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But bYahweh tests hearts.
4 An aevildoer gives heed to lips of wickedness;
A liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the apoor reproaches his Maker;
He who is bglad at disaster will not go unpunished.
6 aGrandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the bbeauty of sons is their fathers.
7 aExcellent lips are not fitting for a wicked fool,
Even less are blying lips for a noble man.
8 A abribe is a charm in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who acovers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter bseparates close companions.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who understands
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a aman meet a bbear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He who areturns evil for good,
bEvil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So aabandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He who ajustifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to aacquire wisdom,
When he has no heart of wisdom?
17 A afriend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking a heart of wisdom astrikes his hands in pledge
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who aloves transgression loves quarreling;
He who bmakes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked heart afinds no good,
And he who is bperverted in his tongue falls into evil.
21 He who abegets a fool does so to his grief,
And the father of a wicked fool is not glad.
22 A aglad heart is good medicine,
But a broken spirit bdries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a abribe from the bosom
To bthrust aside the paths of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who understands,
But the aeyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A afoolish son is a vexation to his father
And bbitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to apunish the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who aholds back his words has knowledge,
And he who has a bcool spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Even an ignorant fool, when he akeeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.
He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He abreaks out in dispute against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in discernment,
But only ain revealing his own heart.
3 When a wicked man comes, despising also comes,
And with disgrace comes reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are adeep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 To ashow partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to bthrust aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips come with strife,
And his mouth calls for abeatings.
7 A afool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the stomach.
9 He also who is aslack in his work
bIs brother to him who destroys.
10 The aname of Yahweh is a bstrong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is cset securely on high.
11 A arich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own delusion.
12 aBefore destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But bhumility goes before glory.
13 He who aresponds with a word before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The aspirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a bbroken spirit, who can bear it?
15 The aheart of the understanding acquires knowledge,
And the bear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s agift makes room for him
And leads him into the presence of great men.
17 The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
18 The cast alot puts an end to contentions
And decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother offended is harder to win over than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20 From the afruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
bWith the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.
21 aDeath and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its bfruit.
22 He who finds a awife finds a good thing
And bobtains favor from Yahweh.
23 The apoor man speaks supplications,
But the brich man canswers with strong words.
24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is aa friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The Counsel of Yahweh Will Stand
aBetter is a poor man who bwalks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked in lips and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries ahis footsteps sins.
3 The afolly of man subverts his way,
But his heart brages against Yahweh.
4 aWealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 A afalse witness will not go unpunished,
And he who bbreathes out lies will not escape.
6 aMany will seek the favor of a noble man,
And everyone is a friend to a man who bgives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his afriends distance themselves from him!
He bpursues them with words, but they are no more.
8 He who acquires a heart of wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps discernment will afind good.
9 A afalse witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes out lies will perish.
10 Luxury is anot fitting for a fool;
Much less for a bslave to rule over princes.
11 A man’s ainsight makes him slow to anger,
And it is his honor bto overlook a transgression.
12 The aking’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like bdew on the grass.
13 A afoolish son is destruction to his father,
And the bcontentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an ainheritance from fathers,
But a wife who has insight is from Yahweh.
15 aLaziness casts into a deep sleep,
And a slack‑handed soul will suffer hunger.
16 He who akeeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who despises his way will die.
17 He who ais gracious to a poor man lends to Yahweh,
And He will repay him for his bbountiful deed.
18 aDiscipline your son while there is hope,
And do not direct your soul to put him to death.
19 A man of great wrath will bear the penalty,
For if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20 aListen to counsel and receive discipline,
That you may be wise in the end of your days.
21 Many athoughts are in a man’s heart,
But it is the bcounsel of Yahweh that will stand.
22 What is desirable in a man is his lovingkindness,
And better is a poor man than a man of falsehood.
23 The afear of Yahweh leads to life,
So that one may sleep bsatisfied, not cvisited by evil.
24 The asluggard buries his hand bin the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 aStrike a scoffer and the simple may become prudent,
But breprove one who has understanding and he will understand knowledge.
26 He awho assaults his father and causes his mother to flee
Is a son who brings shame and humiliation.
27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A vile witness scoffs at justice,
And the mouth of the wicked aswallows up iniquity.
29 Judgments are established for ascoffers,
And bbeatings for the back of fools.
Hope in Yahweh and He Will Save You
aWine is a mocker, bstrong drink a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger asins against his own soul.
3 It is a glory for a man to acease quarreling,
But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.
4 The asluggard does not plow from winter on,
So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of discernment draws it out.
6 Many a man will acall out his own lovingkindness,
But a bfaithful man, who can find?
7 A righteous man who awalks in his integrity—
bHow blessed are his sons after him.
8 aA king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 aWho can say, “I have kept my heart pure,
I am clean from my sin”?
10 aDiffering weights and differing measures,
Both of them are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 It is by his deeds that a young man amakes himself known
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing aear and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made both of them.
13 aDo not love sleep, lest you become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of pearls;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious vessel.
16 Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 aBread obtained by lying is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 aThoughts are established by counsel,
So bmake war by guidance.
19 He who agoes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with bone of loose lips.
20 He who acurses his father or his mother,
His blamp will go out in the midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
In the end will not be blessed.
22 aDo not say, “I will repay evil”;
bHope in Yahweh, and He will save you.
23 aDiffering weights are an abomination to Yahweh,
And a bdeceitful balance is not good.
24 aThe steps of a man are from Yahweh,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And aafter the vows to make inquiry.
26 A awise king winnows the wicked,
And turns the bthreshing wheel over them.
27 The abreath of man is the lamp of Yahweh,
Searching all the innermost parts of his body.
28 Lovingkindness and atruth will guard the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.
29 The honor of young men is their strength,
And the amajesty of old men is their gray hair.
30 aStripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the innermost parts of the body.
Salvation Belongs to Yahweh
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of Yahweh;
He aturns it wherever He pleases.
2 aEvery man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But Yahweh bweighs the hearts.
3 To do arighteousness and justice
Is chosen by Yahweh over sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
The afallow ground of the wicked—are sin.
5 The thoughts of the adiligent lead surely to profit,
But everyone bwho is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6 aWorking for treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting breath, by those who pursue bdeath.
7 The destruction of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they arefuse to do justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is aperverse,
But as for the pure, his work is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked craves evil;
His aneighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the ascoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
And when one considers wisdom, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the awicked to ruin.
13 He who ashuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will himself also call and not be banswered.
14 A agift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 To do justice is pleasure for the righteous,
But is aruin to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of insight
Will arest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who aloves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a aransom for the righteous,
And the btreacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 aIt is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20 There is desirable atreasure and oil in the abode of the wise,
But a foolish man bswallows it up.
21 He who apursues righteousness and lovingkindness
Finds life, righteousness, and glory.
22 A awise man goes up to the city of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who akeeps his mouth and his tongue,
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 “Arrogant,” “Haughty,” “aScoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with barrogant fury.
25 The adesire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he is insatiably craving,
While the righteous agives and does not hold back.
27 The asacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with a wicked scheme!
28 A afalse witness will perish,
But the man who listens will speak forever.
29 A wicked man adisplays a brazen face,
But as for the bupright, he establishes his way.
30 There is ano wisdom, there is no discernment
And there is no counsel against Yahweh.
31 The ahorse is set for the day of battle,
But bsalvation belongs to Yahweh.
Yahweh Is the Maker of All
A agood name is to be chosen over great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together in this—
Yahweh is the aMaker of them all.
3 A aprudent man sees evil and hides,
But the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 The reward of humility—the fear of Yahweh—
Is riches, glory, and life.
5 aThorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
He who keeps his soul will be far from them.
6 aTrain up a child according to his way,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The arich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 He who asows unrighteousness will reap iniquity,
And the brod of his fury will end.
9 He who is agenerous will be blessed,
For he bgives from his food to the poor.
10 aDrive out the scoffer, and strife will go out,
Even contention and disgrace will cease.
11 He who loves apurity of heart
And bgrace on his lips, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge,
But He subverts the words of the treacherous one.
13 The asluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of astrange women is a deep pit;
He who is bcursed of Yahweh will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child;
The arod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 He awho oppresses the poor to make more for himself
Or who gives to the rich bwill only come to lack.
17 aIncline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And set your heart on my knowledge;
18 For it will be apleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be established on your lips.
19 So that your atrust may be in Yahweh,
I have made you know today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you aexcellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you aknow the veracity of the words of truth
That you may brespond with the words of truth to him who sent you?
22 aDo not rob the poor because he is poor,
And do not bcrush the afflicted at the gate;
23 For Yahweh will aplead their case
And rob the soul of those who rob them.
24 Do not befriend a man of anger;
And do not come along with a man of agreat wrath,
25 Lest you alearn his ways
And take on a snare against your soul.
26 Do not be among those who astrike hands in pledge,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he atake your bed from under you?
28 aDo not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers made.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will astand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
The Fear of Yahweh
When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Understand well what is before you,
2 So you should put a knife to your throat
If you are a aman of appetite.
3 Do not adesire his delicacies,
For it is bread of falsehood.
4 aDo not weary yourself to gain wealth,
bBecause of your understanding, cease!
5 Do you make your eyes fly up to see it? But it is not there!
Because ait certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 aDo not eat the bread of a bselfish man,
And do not desire his delicacies;
7 For as he calculates in his soul, so he is.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But ahis heart is not with you.
8 You will avomit up the morsel you have eaten,
And you will corrupt your pleasant words.
9 aDo not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will bdespise the insight of your speech.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary
And do not acome into the fields of the orphans,
11 For their aRedeemer is strong;
bHe will plead their case against you.
12 Bring your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge.
13 aDo not withhold discipline from the child,
Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod
And adeliver his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is awise,
My own heart also will be glad;
16 And my inmost being will exult
When your lips speak aupright things.
17 aDo not let your heart be jealous of sinners,
But be zealous in the bfear of Yahweh always.
18 Surely there is a afuture,
And your bhope will not be cut off.
19 You, my son, listen and abe wise,
And bdirect your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with aheavy drinkers of wine,
Or with bgluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the aheavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And bdrowsiness will clothe them with rags.
22 aListen to your father who begot you,
And bdo not despise your mother when she is old.
23 aBuy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and discipline and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And ahe who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your afather and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26 aGive your heart to me, my son,
And let your eyes bdelight in my ways.
27 For a harlot is a adeep pit
And a bforeign woman is a narrow well.
28 Surely she alies in wait as a robber,
And adds to the treacherous among men.
29 Who has awoe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who alinger long over wine,
Those who go to search out bmixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it glistens red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it agoes down smoothly;
32 At the end—like a serpent it abites,
And like a bviper it stings.
33 Your eyes will see strange things
And your heart will aspeak perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the heart of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35 “They astruck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When shall I awake?
I will bseek yet another.”
My Son, Fear Yahweh
Do not be ajealous of evil men,
And do not desire to bbe with them;
2 For their heart meditates on adestruction,
And their lips btalk of mischief.
3 aBy wisdom a house is built,
And by discernment it is firmly established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are afilled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A awise man is strong,
And a man of knowledge strengthens his power.
6 For aby guidance you will make war,
And bin abundance of counselors there is salvation.
7 Wisdom is atoo exalted for an ignorant fool,
He does not open his mouth bin the gate.
8 One who adeliberately thinks to do evil,
Men will call a schemer.
9 The ascheming of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 If you aare slack in the day of trouble,
Your strength is in trouble.
11 aDeliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are stumbling to the slaughter, Oh hold them back.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
Does not He awho weighs the hearts bunderstand?
And cdoes not He who dguards your soul know?
And will not He erender to man according to his work?
13 Eat ahoney, my son, for it is good,
Indeed, the bhoney from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14 Know that awisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a bfuture,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 aDo not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the abode of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a arighteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the bwicked will stumble in calamity.
17 When your enemy falls, ado not be glad,
And when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice;
18 Lest Yahweh see it and it be evil in His eyes,
And turn His anger away from him.
19 aDo not fret because of evildoers
Do not be bjealous of the wicked;
20 For athere will be no bfuture for the evil one;
The clamp of the wicked will go out.
21 My son, afear Yahweh and the king;
Do not associate with those who change,
22 For suddenly their adisaster will rise,
And who knows the upheaval that comes from both of them?
23 These also are asayings of the wise.
To bshow partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He awho says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
bPeoples will curse him, nations will be indignant with him;
25 But ato those who reprove the wicked, it will be pleasant,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He kisses the lips
Who responds with right words.
27 Establish your work outside
And amake it ready for yourself in the field;
And afterwards, you shall build your house.
28 Do not be a awitness against your neighbor without cause,
Nor bdeceive with your lips.
29 aDo not say, “As he did to me so I shall do to him;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
30 I passed by the field of the sluggard
And by the vineyard of the man alacking a heart of wisdom,
31 And behold, it was completely aovergrown with thistles;
bNettles have covered its surface,
And its stone cwall has been torn down.
32 And I beheld, I set my heart upon it;
I saw, I received discipline.
33 “aA little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”
34 Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.