Holy Bible - The Proverbs

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THE BIBLE – THE OLD TESTAMENT – THE POETICAL BOOKS – THE PROVERBS

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

1 Knowledge and Wisdom:
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them,
33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil.

2 Reward of Seeking Wisdom:
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding,
3 yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path,
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul,

11 discretion will watch over you; understanding will guard you;
12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the path of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness?
14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the pervert ness of evil;
15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

16 You will be saved from the loose (strange) woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words,
17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God,
18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to shades;
19 none who go to her come back nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and men of integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

3 Exhortations to Obey God:
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you.
3 Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsakes you; bind them about your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute (understanding) in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment (or medicine) to your bones.

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11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reprove him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better then gold.
15 She (understanding) is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

21 My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight,
22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin (storm) of the wicked, when it comes;
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly besides you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the perverse men are an abomination to the LORD, but the uprights are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

4 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made
some one stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

5 Warning against Unchastely:
7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from loose woman, and do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of an alien,
11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, ‘How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I was at the point of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.’

15 Drink water from you own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely hind, and a graceful doe.

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19 Let her affection fill you at all times with delight, be infatuated always with her love.
20 Why should you be infatuated, my son, with a loose woman and embrace the bosom of an adventuress?
21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he watches all his paths.
22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is caught in the toils of his sin.
23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is lost.

6 Idleness and Lies:
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief, officer or ruler,
8 she prepares her food in summer, and gathers her sustenance in harvest.
9 How long will you lay there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him,
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers.

8 Eternity of Wisdom:
5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.
12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
22 The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth…
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundation of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
31 I am rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.

34 Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,
36 but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death.

9 1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up her seven pillars.
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man and he will increase
in learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 A foolish woman is noisy; she is wanton and knows no shame.

10 The Upright and the Wicked:
1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences.
16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

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11 1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with humble is wisdom.
7 When the wicked dies, his hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to naught.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.
12 He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 A wicked man earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.
21 Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will be delivered.
28 He who trusts in his riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
31 If the righteous is requited on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

12 1 Whoever love discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
4 A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
17 He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan well have joy.
21 No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

13 1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
11 Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it.
13 He who despises the Word brings destruction on himself,
but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded.
20 He who walks with wise men becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

14 7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.
31 He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

15 Concerning Life and Conduct:
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the minds of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof will die.

12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
21 Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, but a man of understanding walks aright.
27 He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes (makes fat) the bones.

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16 1 The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
4 The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

17 1 Better is dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
13 If a man returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
20 A man of crooked mind does not prosper, and one with perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 A stupid son is a grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.

18 3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes disgrace.
5 It is not good to be partial to a wicked man, or to deprive a righteous man of justice.
9 He who is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
13 If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
14 A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
17 He who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
18 The lot puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.

19 1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool.
11 Good sense makes a man slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offence.
14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction.
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; and he who has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

20 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
19 He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
22 Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.
24 The LORD orders a man’s steps; how then can man understand his way?
25 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

21 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but every one who is hasty comes only to want.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but an upright man considers (establishes) his ways.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the LORD.

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22 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
14 The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

23 Precepts and Warnings:
4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you beat him with the rod, you will save his life from Sheol.
20 Be not among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad, let her who bore you rejoice.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who tarry long over wine, those who go to try mixed wine.

24 1 Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;
for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
12 If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not requite man according to his work?
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked;
20 for the evil men have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
27 Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.
29 Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.’

27 Moral Lessons:
1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.
4Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming; but who can stand before jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
10
Your friend, and your father’s friend, do not forsake;
and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
29 12 If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
30 7 Two things I ask of thee; deny them not to me before I die;
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.

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31 Praise of a Worthy Woman:
10 A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Holy Bible - The Proverbs

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