PROVERBS
The Complete Book of Proverbs NASB
1
The Usefulness of Proverbs
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
3To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
4To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Enticement of Sinners
8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
9Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait for blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
12Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
13We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
14Throw in your lot with us,
We shall all have one purse,”
15My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,
16For their feet run to evil
And they hasten to shed blood.
17Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;
18But they lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
19So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;
It takes away the life of its possessors.
Wisdom Warns
20Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
21At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
23“Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24“Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
26I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
27When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
29Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of YAHWEH. (the LORD)
30“They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
31“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices.
32“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33“But he who listens to me shall live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
2
The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security
1My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5Then you will discern the fear of YAHWEH (the LORD)
And discover the knowledge of God.
6For YAHWEH (the LORD) gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
10For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
12To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things;
13From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14Who delight in doing evil
And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;
16To deliver you from the strange woman,
From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
17That leaves the companion of her youth
And forgets the covenant of her God;
18For her house sinks down to death
And her tracks lead to the dead;
19None who go to her return again,
Nor do they reach the paths of life.
20So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
21For the upright will live in the land
And the blameless will remain in it;
22But the wicked will be cut off from the land
And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
3
The Rewards of Wisdom
1My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
2For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
5Trust in YAHWEH (the LORD) with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear YAHWEH (the LORD) and turn away from evil.
8It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
9Honor YAHWEH (the LORD) from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11My son, do not reject the discipline of YAHWEH (the LORD)
Or loathe His reproof,
12For whom YAHWEH (the LORD) loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
19YAHWEH (the LORD) by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
21My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26For YAHWEH (the LORD) will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
32For the devious are an abomination to YAHWEH; (the LORD)
But He is intimate with the upright.
33The curse of YAHWEH (the LORD) is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
35The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
4
A Father’s Instruction
1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father,
And give attention that you may gain understanding,
2For I give you sound teaching;
Do not abandon my instruction.
3When I was a son to my father,
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4Then he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live;
5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6“Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8“Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9“She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings
And the years of your life will be many.
11I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
13Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness
And drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they stumble.
20My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them
And health to all their body.
23Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
25Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
27Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
5
Pitfalls of Immorality
1My son, give attention to my wisdom,
Incline your ear to my understanding;
2That you may observe discretion
And your lips may reserve knowledge.
3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey
And smoother than oil is her speech;
4But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death,
Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6She does not ponder the path of life;
Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.
7Now then, my sons, listen to me
And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8Keep your way far from her
And do not go near the door of her house,
9Or you will give your vigor to others
And your years to the cruel one;
10And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11And you groan at your final end,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12And you say, “How I have hated instruction!
And my heart spurned reproof!
13“I have not listened to the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14“I was almost in utter ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
15Drink water from your own cistern
And fresh water from your own well.
16Should your springs be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets?
17Let them be yours alone
And not for strangers with you.
18Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.
20For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress
And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
21For the ways of a man are before the eyes of YAHWEH, (the LORD)
And He watches all his paths.
22His own iniquities will capture the wicked,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23He will die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
6
Parental Counsel
1My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor,
Have given a pledge for a stranger,
2If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,
Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
7Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
8Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
9How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest”—
11Your poverty will come in like a vagabond
And your need like an armed man.
12A worthless person, a wicked man,
Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,
13Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,
Who points with his fingers;
14Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil,
Who spreads strife.
15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly;
Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
16There are six things which YAHWEH (the LORD) hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.
20My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
21Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22When you walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
23For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life
24To keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
26For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,
And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.
27Can a man take fire in his bosom
And his clothes not be burned?
28Or can a man walk on hot coals
And his feet not be scorched?
29So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.
30Men do not despise a thief if he steals
To satisfy himself when he is hungry;
31But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold;
He must give all the substance of his house.
32The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense;
He who would destroy himself does it.
33Wounds and disgrace he will find,
And his reproach will not be blotted out.
34For jealousy enrages a man,
And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35He will not accept any ransom,
Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
7
The Wiles of the Harlot
1My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
2Keep my commandments and live,
And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your intimate friend;
5That they may keep you from an adulteress,
From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6For at the window of my house
I looked out through my lattice,
7And I saw among the naive,
And discerned among the youths
A young man lacking sense,
8Passing through the street near her corner;
And he takes the way to her house,
9In the twilight, in the evening,
In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
11She is boisterous and rebellious,
Her feet do not remain at home;
12She is now in the streets, now in the squares,
And lurks by every corner.
13So she seizes him and kisses him
And with a brazen face she says to him:
14“I was due to offer peace offerings;
Today I have paid my vows.
15“Therefore I have come out to meet you,
To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
16“I have spread my couch with coverings,
With colored linens of Egypt.
17“I have sprinkled my bed
With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
19“For my husband is not at home,
He has gone on a long journey;
20He has taken a bag of money with him,
At the full moon he will come home.”
21With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her flattering lips she seduces him.
22Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
23Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a bird hastens to the snare,
So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.
26For many are the victims she has cast down,
And numerous are all her slain.
27Her house is the way to Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
8
The Commendation of Wisdom
1Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5“O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.
6“Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7“For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8“All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9“They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10“Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11“For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13“The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14“Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15“By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16“By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18“Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20“I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22“YAHWEH (the LORD) possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23“From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24“When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25“Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;
26While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27“When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,
29When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.
32“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33“Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34“Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35“For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from YAHWEH. (the LORD)
36“But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
9
Wisdom’s Invitation
1Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table;
3She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:
4“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks understanding she says,
5“Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6“Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding.”
7He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13The woman of folly is boisterous,
She is naive and knows nothing.
14She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high places of the city,
15Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight:
16“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks understanding she says,
17“Stolen water is sweet;
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
10
Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
1The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3YAHWEH (the LORD) will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
4Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.
9He who walks in integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.
11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.
13On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
14Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15The rich man’s wealth is his fortress,
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16The wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.
22It is the blessing of YAHWEH (the LORD) that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.
23Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.
27The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
29The way of YAHWEH (the LORD) is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
30The righteous will never be shaken,
But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
32The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
11
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1A false balance is an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But a just weight is His delight.
2When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
7When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of strong men perishes.
8The righteous is delivered from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.
9With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
13He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
14Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
15He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.
16A gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm.
18The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life,
And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20The perverse in heart are an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
25The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.
26He who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29He who troubles his own house will inherit wind,
And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls.
31If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
12
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.
2A good man will obtain favor from YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
3A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8A man will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse mind will be despised.
9Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.
12The wicked man desires the booty of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.
14A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16A fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22Lying lips are an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
25Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad.
26The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27A lazy man does not roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a man is diligence.
28In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
13
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5A righteous man hates falsehood,
But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the sinner.
7There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
8The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
9The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10Through insolence comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.
15Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.
16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
But a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,
But he who regards reproof will be honored.
19Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21Adversity pursues sinners,
But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But it is swept away by injustice.
24He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the wicked is in need.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
14
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2He who walks in his uprightness fears YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.
6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is good will.
10The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
13Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.
14The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his.
15The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.
16A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.
18The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21He who despises his neighbor sins,
But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.
22Will they not go astray who devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.
25A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.
26In the fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.
27The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.
28In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
29He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
30A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones.
31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the hearts of fools it is made known.
34Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
15
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3The eyes of YAHWEH (the LORD) are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.
6Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
10Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before YAHWEH, (the LORD)
How much more the hearts of men!
12A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
13A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better is a little with the fear of YAHWEH (the LORD)
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17Better is a dish of vegetables where love is
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
19The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,
But a man of understanding walks straight.
22Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they succeed.
23A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the wise
That he may keep away from Sheol below.
25YAHWEH (the LORD) will tear down the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26Evil plans are an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
But pleasant words are pure.
27He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29YAHWEH (the LORD) is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.
31He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.
32He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
33The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
16
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from YAHWEH. (the LORD)
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But YAHWEH (the LORD) weighs the motives.
3Commit your works to YAHWEH (the LORD)
And your plans will be established.
4YAHWEH (the LORD) has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to YAHWEH; (the LORD)
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) one keeps away from evil.
7When a man’s ways are pleasing to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9The mind of man plans his way,
But YAHWEH (the LORD) directs his steps.
10A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.
11A just balance and scales belong to YAHWEH; (the LORD)
All the weights of the bag are His concern.
12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
14The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.
15In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.
16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.
18Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in YAHWEH. (the LORD)
21The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.
27A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.
28A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
29A man of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.
32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from YAHWEH. (the LORD)
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
17
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But YAHWEH (the LORD) tests hearts.
4An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.
8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13He who returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to YAHWEH. (the LORD)
16Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no sense?
17A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18A man lacking in sense pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19He who loves transgression loves strife;
He who raises his door seeks destruction.
20He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
21He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22A joyful heart is good medicine,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom
To pervert the ways of justice.
24Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father
And bitterness to her who bore him.
26It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
18
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
6A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9He also who is slack in his work
Is brother to him who destroys.
10The name of YAHWEH (the LORD) is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe.
11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
13He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
15The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift makes room for him
And brings him before great men.
17The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
18The cast lot puts an end to strife
And decides between the mighty ones.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from YAHWEH. (the LORD)
23The poor man utters supplications,
But the rich man answers roughly.
24A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
19
On Life and Conduct
1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries his footsteps errs.
3The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against YAHWEH. (the LORD)
4Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape.
6Many will seek the favor of a generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
9A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.
10Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from YAHWEH. (the LORD)
15Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger.
16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of conduct will die.
17One who is gracious to a poor man lends to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
And He will repay him for his good deed.
18Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire his death.
19A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days.
21Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of YAHWEH (the LORD) will stand.
22What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
23The fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.
26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.
29Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
20
On Life and Conduct
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will quarrel.
4The sluggard does not plow after the autumn,
So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.
6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?
7A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.
8A king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to YAHWEH. (the LORD)
11It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
12The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
YAHWEH (the LORD) has made both of them.
13Do not love sleep, or you will 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.
15There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18Prepare plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance.
19He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
Wait for YAHWEH, (the LORD) and He will save you.
23Differing weights are an abomination to YAHWEH, (the LORD)
And a false scale is not good.
24Man’s steps are ordained by YAHWEH, (the LORD)
How then can man understand his way?
25It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And after the vows to make inquiry.
26A wise king winnows the wicked,
And drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of YAHWEH, (the LORD)
Searching all the innermost parts of his being.
28Loyalty and truth preserve the king,
And he upholds his throne by righteousness.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
30Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the innermost parts.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
21
On Life and Conduct
1The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of YAHWEH; (the LORD)
He turns it wherever He wishes.
2Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But YAHWEH (the LORD) weighs the hearts.
3To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by YAHWEH (the LORD) more than sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
7The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they refuse to act with justice.
8The way of a guilty man is crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the wicked to ruin.
13He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered.
14A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
16A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.
21He who pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
22A wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with insolent pride.
25The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26All day long he is craving,
While the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28A false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29A wicked man displays a bold face,
But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30There is no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against YAHWEH. (the LORD)
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to YAHWEH. (the LORD)
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
22
On Life and Conduct
1A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor have a common bond,
YAHWEH (the LORD) is the maker of them all.
3The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.
4The reward of humility and the fear of YAHWEH (the LORD)
Are riches, honor and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
8He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,
And the rod of his fury will perish.
9He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.
10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,
Even strife and dishonor will cease.
11He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
12The eyes of YAHWEH (the LORD) preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of YAHWEH (the LORD) will fall into it.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself
Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in YAHWEH, (the LORD)
I have taught you today, even you.
20Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21To make you know the certainty of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer him who sent you?
22Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Or crush the afflicted at the gate;
23For YAHWEH (the LORD) will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them.
24Do not associate with a man given to anger;
Or go with a hot-tempered man,
25Or you will learn his ways
And find a snare for yourself.
26Do not be among those who give pledges,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take your bed from under you?
28Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.
29Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
23
On Life and Conduct
1When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,
2And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.
3Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.
4Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
Cease from your consideration of it.
5When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
7For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.
8You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten,
And waste your compliments.
9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10Do not move the ancient boundary
Or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11For their Redeemer is strong;
He will plead their case against you.
12Apply your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge.
13Do not hold back discipline from the child,
Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14You shall strike him with the rod
And rescue his soul from Sheol.
15My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad;
16And my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.
17Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of YAHWEH (the LORD) always.
18Surely there is a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
19Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.
20Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
22Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.
25Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
27For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.
28Surely she lurks as a robber,
And increases the faithless among men.
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;
32At the last it bites like a serpent
And stings like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things
And your mind will utter perverse things.
34And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35“They struck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When shall I awake?
I will seek another drink.”
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
24
Precepts and Warnings
1Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
2For their minds devise violence,
And their lips talk of trouble.
3By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong,
And a man of knowledge increases power.
6For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7Wisdom is too exalted for a fool,
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8One who plans to do evil,
Men will call a schemer.
9The devising of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10If you are slack in the day of distress,
Your strength is limited.
11Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
12If you say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good,
Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;
16For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18Or YAHWEH (the LORD) will see it and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.
19Do not fret because of evildoers
Or be envious of the wicked;
20For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21My son, fear YAHWEH (the LORD) and the king;
Do not associate with those who are given to change,
22For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?
23These also are sayings of the wise.
To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;
25But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26He kisses the lips
Who gives a right answer.
27Prepare your work outside
And make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterwards, then, build your house.
28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
And do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
30I passed by the field of the sluggard
And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,
31And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles;
Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.
32When I saw, I reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
33“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”
34Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
25
Similitudes, Instructions
1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
5Take away the wicked before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;
7For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.
8Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
10Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.
11Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
15By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
17Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become weary of you and hate you.
18Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow
Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And YAHWEH (the LORD) will reward you.
23The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24It is better to live in a corner of the roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a distant land.
26Like a trampled spring and a polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.
28Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
26
Similitudes, Instructions
1Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a curse without cause does not alight.
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.
6He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!”
14As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
17Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
18Like a madman who throws
Firebrands, arrows and death,
19So is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, “Was I not joking?”
20For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
27
Warnings and Instructions
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.
3A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
4Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
But who can stand before jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
7A sated man loathes honey,
But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.
8Like a bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man who wanders from his home.
9Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
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 far away.
11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches me.
12A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The naive proceed and pay the penalty.
13Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.
14He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.
15A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;
16He who would restrain her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
17Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
18He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who cares for his master will be honored.
19As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.
20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.
21The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
22Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23Know well the condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;
24For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26The lambs will be for your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field,
27And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household,
And sustenance for your maidens.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
28
Warnings and Instructions
1The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.
5Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek YAHWEH (the LORD) understand all things.
6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
7He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
9He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
10He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
11The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
14How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
18He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is crooked will fall all at once.
19He who tills his land will have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
20A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21To show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.
23He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the companion of a man who destroys.
25An arrogant man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in YAHWEH (the LORD) will prosper.
26He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
27He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
29
Warnings and Instructions
1A man who hardens his neck after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.
2When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.
4The king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
5A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
6By transgression an evil man is ensnared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such concern.
8Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.
9When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,
But the upright are concerned for his life.
11A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.
12If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
YAHWEH (the LORD) gives light to the eyes of both.
14If a king judges the poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
15The rod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
16When the wicked increase, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their fall.
17Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also delight your soul.
18Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,
But happy is he who keeps the law.
19A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be a son.
22An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
23A man’s pride will bring him low,
But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
24He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He hears the oath but tells nothing.
25The fear of man brings a snare,
But he who trusts in YAHWEH (the LORD) will be exalted.
26Many seek the ruler’s favor,
But justice for man comes from YAHWEH. (the LORD)
27An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
30
The Words of Agur
1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man.
3Neither have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!
5Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
7Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
8Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
9That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is YAHWEH?” (the LORD)
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
10Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
11There is a kind of man who curses his father
And does not bless his mother.
12There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords
And his jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the afflicted from the earth
And the needy from among men.
15The leech has two daughters,
“Give,” “Give.”
There are three things that will not be satisfied,
Four that will not say, “Enough”:
16Sheol, and the barren womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”
17The eye that mocks a father
And scorns a mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.
18There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
19The way of an eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.
20This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wrong.”
21Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot bear up:
22Under a slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
24Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25The ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
26The shephanim are not mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in ranks;
28The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29There are three things which are stately in their march,
Even four which are stately when they walk:
30The lion which is mighty among beasts
And does not retreat before any,
31The strutting rooster, the male goat also,
And a king when his army is with him.
32If you have been foolish in exalting yourself
Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.
33For the churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose brings forth blood;
So the churning of anger produces strife.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
31
The Words of Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:
2What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
7Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
Description of a Worthy Woman
10An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears YAHWEH, (the LORD) she shall be praised.
31Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org