Proverbs

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

1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

1:4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels:

1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1:8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother:

1:9 For they shall be an ornament of grace to your head, and chains about your neck.

1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, consent you not.

1:11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privately for the innocent without cause:

1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

1:13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

1:14 Cast in your lot among us; let us all have one purse:

1:15 My son, walk not you in the way with them; refrain your foot from their path:

1:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

1:18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privately for their own lives.

1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which takes away the life of the owners thereof.

1:20 Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:

1:21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words, saying,

1:22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make known my words to you.

1:24 Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

1:25 But you have set at nothing all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes;

1:27 When your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish comes on you.

1:28 Then shall they call on me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

1:33 But whoever listens to me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

2:1 My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you;

2:2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

2:3 Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding;

2:4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;

2:5 Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

2:7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

2:8 He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints.

2:9 Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path.

2:10 When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul;

2:11 Discretion shall preserve you, understanding shall keep you:

2:12 To deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks fraudulent things;

2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they fraudulent in their paths:

2:16 To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flatters with her words;

2:17 Which forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.

2:18 For her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead.

2:19 None that go to her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

2:20 That you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:

3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.

3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:

3:4 So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.

3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

3:8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.

3:9 Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:

3:10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.

3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

3:12 For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.

3:13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.

3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.

3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.

3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that retains her.

3:19 The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.

3:20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

3:21 My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

3:22 So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.

3:23 Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.

3:24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.

3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.

3:26 For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.

3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

3:28 Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you.

3:29 Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.

3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.

3:31 Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

3:32 For the fraudulent is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

3:33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.

3:34 Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.

3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

4:1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.

4:3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4:4 He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.

4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.

4:9 She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.

4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.

4:11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.

4:12 When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.

4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.

4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

4:21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.

4:22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

4:24 Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.

4:25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.

4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.

5:1 My son, attend to my wisdom, and bow your ear to my understanding:

5:2 That you may regard discretion, and that your lips may keep knowledge.

5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

5:5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

5:6 Lest you should ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that you can not know them.

5:7 Hear me now therefore, O you children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

5:8 Remove your way far from her, and come not near the door of her house:

5:9 Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel:

5:10 Lest strangers be filled with your wealth; and your labors be in the house of a stranger;

5:11 And you mourn at the last, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

5:12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

5:13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to them that instructed me!

5:14 I was almost in all evil in the middle of the congregation and assembly.

5:15 Drink waters out of your own cistern, and running waters out of your own well.

5:16 Let your fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

5:17 Let them be only your own, and not strangers' with you.

5:18 Let your fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

5:19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and be you ravished always with her love.

5:20 And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his goings.

5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be held with the cords of his sins.

5:23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

6:1 My son, if you be surety for your friend, if you have stricken your hand with a stranger,

6:2 You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth.

6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, when you are come into the hand of your friend; go, humble yourself, and make sure your friend.

6:4 Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

6:5 Deliver yourself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

6:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

6:8 Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

6:9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? when will you arise out of your sleep?

6:10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

6:11 So shall your poverty come as one that travels, and your want as an armed man.

6:12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walks with a fraudulent mouth.

6:13 He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;

6:14 Frowardness is in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he sows discord.

6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

6:16 These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination to him:

6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

6:18 An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

6:19 A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brothers.

6:20 My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not the law of your mother:

6:21 Bind them continually on your heart, and tie them about your neck.

6:22 When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you wake, it shall talk with you.

6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

6:25 Lust not after her beauty in your heart; neither let her take you with her eyelids.

6:26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

6:28 Can one go on hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

6:29 So he that goes in to his neighbor's wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

6:31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

6:32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul.

6:33 A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

6:35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

7:1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you.

7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye.

7:3 Bind them on your fingers, write them on the table of your heart.

7:4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister; and call understanding your kinswoman:

7:5 That they may keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger which flatters with her words.

7:6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7:7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

7:9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.

7:11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

7:12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.)

7:13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,

7:14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.

7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.

7:16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

7:19 For the manager is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

7:21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

7:22 He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life.

7:24 Listen to me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

7:25 Let not your heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

7:26 For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her.

7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

8:1 Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

8:2 She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

8:3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

8:4 To you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

8:5 O you simple, understand wisdom: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart.

8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing fraudulent or perverse in them.

8:9 They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge.

8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the fraudulent mouth, do I hate.

8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

8:18 Riches and honor are with me; yes, durable riches and righteousness.

8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of judgment:

8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass on the face of the depth:

8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

8:32 Now therefore listen to me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

8:34 Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

8:35 For whoever finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.

8:36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

9:1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:

9:2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.

9:3 She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,

9:4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she said to him,

9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

9:7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.

9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

9:11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

9:12 If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.

9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.

9:14 For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

9:16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she said to him,

9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

9:18 But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death.

10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casts away the substance of the wicked.

10:4 He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

10:5 He that gathers in summer is a wise son: but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame.

10:6 Blessings are on the head of the just: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

10:7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

10:9 He that walks uprightly walks surely: but he that perverts his ways shall be known.

10:10 He that winks with the eye causes sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

10:12 Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.

10:13 In the lips of him that has understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

10:15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

10:16 The labor of the righteous tends to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

10:17 He is in the way of life that keeps instruction: but he that refuses reproof errs.

10:18 He that hides hatred with lying lips, and he that utters a slander, is a fool.

10:19 In the multitude of words there wants not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.

10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding has wisdom.

10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come on him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

10:25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

10:31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the fraudulent tongue shall be cut out.

10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks frowardness.

11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.

11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

11:7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perishes.

11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead.

11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

11:12 He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbor: but a man of understanding holds his peace.

11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.

11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hates indebtedness is sure.

11:16 A gracious woman retains honor: and strong men retain riches.

11:17 The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.

11:18 The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.

11:19 As righteousness tends to life: so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

11:20 They that are of a fraudulent heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

11:24 There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.

11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself.

11:26 He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be on the head of him that sells it.

11:27 He that diligently seeks good procures favor: but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him.

11:28 He that trusts in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

11:29 He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.

11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge: but he that hates reproof is brutish.

12:2 A good man obtains favor of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

12:6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

12:9 He that is despised, and has a servant, is better than he that honors himself, and lacks bread.

12:10 A righteous man regards the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

12:11 He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows vain persons is void of understanding.

12:12 The wicked desires the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yields fruit.

12:13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered to him.

12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that listens to counsel is wise.

12:16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covers shame.

12:17 He that speaks truth shows forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

12:18 There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

12:21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

12:23 A prudent man conceals knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.

12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduces them.

12:27 The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

12:28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

13:1 A wise son hears his father's instruction: but a scorner hears not rebuke.

13:2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

13:3 He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

13:4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

13:5 A righteous man hates lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame.

13:6 Righteousness keeps him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

13:7 There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

13:8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor hears not rebuke.

13:9 The light of the righteous rejoices: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

13:10 Only by pride comes contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.

13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13:13 Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.

13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

13:15 Good understanding gives favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.

13:16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge: but a fool lays open his folly.

13:17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction: but he that regards reproof shall be honored.

13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

13:20 He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

13:21 Evil pursues sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

13:23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

13:24 He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes.

13:25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

14:1 Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.

14:2 He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.

14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

14:6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understands.

14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive not in him the lips of knowledge.

14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.

14:10 The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy.

14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

14:15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going.

14:16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident.

14:17 He that is soon angry deals foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

14:19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich has many friends.

14:21 He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

14:23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.

14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

14:25 A true witness delivers souls: but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

14:28 In the multitude of people is the king's honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

14:31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but he that honors him has mercy on the poor.

14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death.

14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding: but that which is in the middle of fools is made known.

14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

14:35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.

15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

15:2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.

15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

15:5 A fool despises his father's instruction: but he that regards reproof is prudent.

15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish does not so.

15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but he loves him that follows after righteousness.

15:10 Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way: and he that hates reproof shall die.

15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

15:12 A scorner loves not one that reproves him: neither will he go to the wise.

15:13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

15:14 The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

15:18 A wrathful man stirs up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.

15:19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

15:20 A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother.

15:21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

15:25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; but he that hates gifts shall live.

15:28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

15:30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones fat.

15:31 The ear that hears the reproof of life stays among the wise.

15:32 He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding.

15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits.

16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.

16:4 The LORD has made all things for himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

16:9 A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.

16:10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresses not in judgment.

16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right.

16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

16:15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul.

16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

16:20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.

16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that has it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

16:26 He that labors labors for himself; for his mouth craves it of him.

16:27 An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

16:28 A fraudulent man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends.

16:29 A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him into the way that is not good.

16:30 He shuts his eyes to devise fraudulent things: moving his lips he brings evil to pass.

16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.

16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

17:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.

17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.

17:4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.

17:5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

17:7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

17:8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.

17:9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.

17:10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

17:11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

17:13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

17:15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that comdemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

17:16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?

17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17:18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.

17:19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.

17:20 He that has a fraudulent heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

17:21 He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.

17:22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

17:23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

17:24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

17:27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

17:28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.

18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

18:3 When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

18:4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

18:6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes.

18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.

18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

18:13 He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

18:15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

18:16 A man's