Armenian Apostolic Church Library Online

Proverbs
Chapter 1

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

2 To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;

3 To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice

and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and

discretion:

5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man

of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their

dark sayings.

7. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish

despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of

thy mother:

9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about

thy neck.

10. My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk

privily for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go

down into the pit;

13 We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with

spoil;

14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from

their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.

17 For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:

18 And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their

own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away

the life of the owners thereof.

20. Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad

places;

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the

gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers

delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I

will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my

hand, and no man hath regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my

reproof:

26 I also will laugh in [the day of] your calamity; I will mock when your

fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a

whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me

diligently, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:

30 They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled

with their own devices.

32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless

ease of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet

without fear of evil.

1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with

thee;

2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to

understanding;

3 Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for

understanding;

4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge

of God.

6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and

understanding:

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; [He is] a shield to them

that walk in integrity;

8 That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his

saints.

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity,

[yea], every good path.

10. For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant

unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:

12 To deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse

things;

13 Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;

15 Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths:

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that

flattereth with her words;

17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of

her God:

18 For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;

19 None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the

paths of life:

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of

the righteous.

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain

in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous

shall be rooted out of it.

1. My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to

thee.

3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck;

Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:

4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and

man.

5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own

understanding:

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

7. Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:

8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.

9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all

thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow

with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his

reproof:

12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom

he delighteth.

13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth

understanding.

14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the

profit thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst

desire are to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days 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 them that lay hold upon her: And happy is

every one that retaineth her.

19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established

the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down

the dew.

21. My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and

discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not

stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie

down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked,

when it cometh:

26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being

taken.

27. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power

of thy hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will

give; When thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by

thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.

32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is

with the upright.

33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth

the habitation of the righteous.

34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the

lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of

fools.

1. Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know

understanding:

2 For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of

my mother.

4 And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep

my commandments, and live;

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the

words of my mouth;

6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will

keep thee.

7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all

thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor,

when thou dost embrace her.

9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will

she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life

shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of

uprightness.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou

runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; Let her not go: Keep her; For she is

thy life.

14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil

men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.

16 For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken

away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth

more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they

stumble.

20. My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy

heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their

flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of

life.

24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from

thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight

before thee.

26 Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.

1. My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:

2 That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep

knowledge.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother

than oil:

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol;

6 So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable,

[and] she knoweth [it] not.

7 Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the

words of my mouth.

8 Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;

9 Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;

10 Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors [be] in the

house of an alien,

11 And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are

consumed,

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

13 Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear

to them that instructed me!

14 I was well-nigh in all evil In the midst of the assembly and

congregation.

15. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine

own well.

16 Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the

streets?

17 Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee.

18 Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

19 [As] a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at

all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.

20 For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And

embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh

level all his paths.

22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with

the cords of his sin.

23 He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his

folly he shall go astray.

1. My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast

stricken thy hands for a stranger;

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the

words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the

hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor;

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids;

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand [of the hunter], And as a bird

from the hand of the fowler.

6. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the

harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy

sleep?

10 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands

to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.

12. A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a

perverse mouth;

13 That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh

signs with his fingers;

14 In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who

soweth discord.

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be

broken, and that without remedy.

16 There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an

abomination unto him:

17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;

18 A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running

to mischief,

19 A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among

brethren.

20. My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of

thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall

watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; And the law is light; And reproofs of

instruction are the way of life:

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner's

tongue.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with

her eyelids.

26 For on account of a harlot [a man is brought] to a piece of bread; And

the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?

28 Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whosoever toucheth her

shall not be unpunished.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is

hungry:

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the

substance of his house.

32 He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He

doeth it who would destroy his own soul.

33 Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped

away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of

vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though

thou givest many gifts.

1. My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.

2 Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.

3 Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding [thy]

kinswoman:

5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From he foreigner that

flattereth with her words.

6. For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;

7 And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A

young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her

house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night

and in the darkness.

10 And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and

wily of heart.

11 She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house:

12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait

at every corner.

13 So she caught him, and kissed him, [And] with an impudent face she

said unto him:

14 Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my

vows.

15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and

I have found thee.

16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths

of the yarn of Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace

ourselves with loves.

19 For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey:

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full

moon.

21 With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the

flattering of her lips she forceth him along.

22 He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as

[one in] fetters to the correction of the fool;

23 Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the

snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.

24. Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of

my mouth.

25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.

26 For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty

host.

27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.

1. Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

2 On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she

standeth;

3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the

doors, she crieth aloud:

4 Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding

heart.

6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips

shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my

lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing

crooked or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that

find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than

choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be

desired are not to be compared unto it.

12. I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and]

discretion.

13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the

evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have

might.

15 By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, And nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.

17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find

me.

18 Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than

choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of

justice;

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I

may fill their treasuries.

22. Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of

old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth

was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no

fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought

forth;

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the

beginning of the dust of the world.

27 When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle

upon the face of the deep,

28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep

became strong,

29 When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not

transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the

earth;

30 Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his]

delight, Rejoicing always before him,

31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of

men.

32. Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that

keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates,

Waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that

hate me love death.

1. Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also

furnished her table:

3 She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of

the city:

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of

understanding, she saith to him,

5 Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of

understanding.

7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that

reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he

will love thee.

9 Give [instruction] to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a

righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of

the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life

shall be increased.

12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest,

thou alone shalt bear it.

13. The foolish woman is clamorous; [She is] simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places

of the city,

15 To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void

of understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the

depths of Sheol.

1. The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish

son is the heaviness of his mother.

2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth

from death.

3 Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he

thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.

4. He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the

diligent maketh rich.

5. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; [But] he that sleepeth in

harvest is a son that causeth shame.

6. Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the

mouth of the wicked.

7. The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked

shall rot.

8. The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall

fall.

9. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his

ways shall be known.

10. He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall

fall.

11. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence

covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12. Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.

13. In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is

for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14. Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present

destruction.

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

is their poverty.

16. The labor of the righteous [tendeth] to life; The increase of the

wicked, to sin.

17. He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that

forsaketh reproof erreth.

18. He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander

is a fool.

19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that

refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

20. The tongue of the righteous is [as] choice silver: The heart of the

wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of

understanding.

22. The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow

therewith.

23. It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man

of understanding.

24. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the

righteous shall be granted.

25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous

is an everlasting foundation.

26. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard

to them that send him.

27. The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall

be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness; But the expectation of

the wicked shall perish.

29. The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a

destruction to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell

in the land.

31. The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse

tongue shall be cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of

the wicked [speaketh] perverseness.

1. A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his

delight.

2. When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.

3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of

the treacherous shall destroy them.

4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth

from death.

5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked

shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the

treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

7. When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; And the hope

of iniquity perisheth.

8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his

stead.

9. With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through

knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

10. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when

the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is

overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12. He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of

understanding holdeth his peace.

13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is

of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

14. Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of

counsellors there is safety.

15. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that

hateth suretyship is secure.

16. A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.

17. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel

troubleth his own flesh.

18. The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness

[hath] a sure reward.

19. He that is stedfast in righteousness [shall attain] unto life; And he

that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.

20. They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But

such as are perfect in [their] way are his delight.

21. [Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;

But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22. [As] a ring of gold in a swine's snout, [So is] a fair woman that is

without discretion.

23. The desire of the righteous is only good; [But] the expectation of the

wicked is wrath.

24. There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that

withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] only to want.

25. The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be

watered also himself.

26. He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing

shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27. He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth

after evil, it shall come unto him.

28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall

flourish as the green leaf.

29. He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the

foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise

winneth souls.

31. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more

the wicked and the sinner!

1. Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is

brutish.

2. A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices

will he condemn.

3. A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the

righteous shall not be moved.

4. A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed

is as rottenness in his bones.

5. The thoughts of the righteous are just; [But] the counsels of the

wicked are deceit.

6. The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth

of the upright shall deliver them.

7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous

shall stand.

8. A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a

perverse heart shall be despised.

9. Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that

honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

10. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender

mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that

followeth after vain [persons] is void of understanding.

12. The wicked desireth the net of evil men; But the root of the righteous

yieldeth [fruit].

13. In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the

righteous shall come out of trouble.

14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the

doings of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise

hearkeneth unto counsel.

16. A fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth

shame.

17. He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false

witness, deceit.

18. There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the

tongue of the wise is health.

19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is

but for a moment.

20. Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the

counsellors of peace is joy.

21. There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall

be filled with evil.

22. Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are

his delight.

23. A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth

foolishness.

24. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be

put under taskwork.

25. Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word

maketh it glad.

26. The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked

causeth them to err.

27. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the

precious substance of men [is to] the diligent.

28. In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there

is no death.

1. A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth

not rebuke.

2. A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the

treacherous [shall eat] violence.

3. He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; [But] he that openeth wide

his lips shall have destruction.

4. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of

the diligent shall be made fat.

5. A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh

to shame.

6. Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness

overthroweth the sinner.

7. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that

maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

8. The ransom of a man's life is his riches; But the poor heareth no

threatening.

9. The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall

be put out.

10. By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by

labor shall have increase.

12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is

a tree of life.

13. Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that

feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from

the snares of death.

15. Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is

hard.

16. Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his]

folly.

17. A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is

health.

18. Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction; But he

that regardeth reproof shall be honored.

19. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination

to fools to depart from evil.

20. Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools

shall smart for it.

21. Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with

good.

22. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the

wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.

23. Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is

destroyed by reason of injustice.

24. He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him

chasteneth him betimes.

25. The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of

the wicked shall want.

1. Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down

with her own hands.

2. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is

perverse in his ways despiseth him.

3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of

the wise shall preserve them.

4. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the

strength of the ox.

5. A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.

6. A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not; But knowledge is easy

unto him that hath understanding.

7. Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in

him] the lips of knowledge.

8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of

fools is deceit.

9. A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good

will.

10. The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not

inter-meddle with its joy.

11. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the

upright shall flourish.

12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are

the ways of death.

13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is

heaviness.

14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good

man [shall be satisfied] from himself.

15. The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to

his going.

16. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth

himself insolently, and is confident.

17. He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices

is hated.

18. The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19. The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the

righteous.

20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many

friends.

21. He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the

poor, happy is he.

22. Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth [shall be to]

them that devise good.

23. In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only

to penury.

24. The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is

[only] folly.

25. A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies [causeth]

deceit.

26. In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall

have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from

the snares of death.

28. In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of

people is the destruction of the prince.

29. He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is

hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30. A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness

of the bones.

31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath

mercy on the needy honoreth him.

32. The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a

refuge in his death.

33. Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that

which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.

34. Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.

35. The king's favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his

wrath will be [against] him that causeth shame.

1. A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up

anger.

2. The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of

fools poureth out folly.

3. The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and

the good.

4. A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a

breaking of the spirit.

5. A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof

getteth prudence.

6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of

the wicked is trouble.

7. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish

[doeth] not so.

8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the

prayer of the upright is his delight.

9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him

that followeth after righteousness.

10. There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; [And] he

that hateth reproof shall die.

11. Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of

the children of men!

12. A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.

13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the

spirit is broken.

14. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the

mouth of fools feedeth on folly.

15. All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful

heart [hath] a continual feast.

16. Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and

trouble therewith.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and

hatred therewith.

18. A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger

appeaseth strife.

19. The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the

upright is made a highway.

20. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his

mother.

21. Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding

maketh straight his going.

22. Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the

multitude of counsellors they are established.

23. A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season,

how good is it!

24. To the wise the way of life [goeth] upward, That he may depart from

Sheol beneath.

25. Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the

border of the widow.

26. Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words [are]

pure.

27. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth

bribes shall live.

28. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the

wicked poureth out evil things.

29. Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the

righteous.

30. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; [And] good tidings make the

bones fat.

31. The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the

wise.

32. He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that

hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.

33. The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor

[goeth] humility.

1. The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is

from Jehovah.

2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth

the spirits.

3. Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.

4. Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for

the day of evil.

5. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: [Though]

hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

6. By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah

men depart from evil.

7. When a man's ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at

peace with him.

8. Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with

injustice.

9. A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.

10. A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not

transgress in judgment.

11. A just balance and scales are Jehovah's; All the weights of the bag

are his work.

12. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is

established by righteousness.

13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that

speaketh right.

14. The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will

pacify it.

15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; And his favor is as a

cloud of the latter rain.

16. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get

understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

17. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his

way preserveth his soul.

18. Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

19. Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the

spoil with the proud.

20. He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth

in Jehovah, happy is he.

21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the

lips increaseth learning.

22. Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the

correction of fools is [their] folly.

23. The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to

his lips.

24. Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to

the bones.

25. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are

the ways of death.

26. The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth

urgeth him [thereto].

27. A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a

scorching fire.

28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth

chief friends.

29. A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that

is not good.

30 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise perverse things: He that

compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

31. The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of

righteousness.

32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth

his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

33. The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of

Jehovah.

1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of

feasting with strife.

2. A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth

shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

3. The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah

trieth the hearts.

4. An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a

mischievous tongue.

5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at

calamity shall not be unpunished.

6. Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children

are their fathers.

7. Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

8. A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it;

Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a

matter separateth chief friends.

10. A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a

hundred stripes into a fool.

11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall

be sent against him.

12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his

folly.

13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

14. The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore

leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous,

Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing

he hath no understanding?

17. A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the

presence of his neighbor.

19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his

gate seeketh destruction.

20. He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a

perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21. He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a

fool hath no joy.

22. A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the

bones.

23. A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways

of justice.

24. Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes

of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that

bare him.

26. Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for

[their] uprightness.

27. He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool

spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he

shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.

1. He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against

all sound wisdom.

2. A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may

reveal itself.

3. When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy

[cometh] reproach.

4. The words of a man's mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of

wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.

5. To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside

the righteous in judgment.

6. A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his

soul.

8. The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into

the innermost parts.

9. He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a

destroyer.

10. The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it,

and is safe.

11. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his

own imagination.

12. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor

[goeth] humility.

13. He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto

him.

14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit

who can bear?

15. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise

seeketh knowledge.

16. A man's gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.

17. He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor

cometh and searcheth him out.

18. The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.

19. A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And

[such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20. A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the

increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it

shall eat the fruit thereof.

22. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of

Jehovah.

23. The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.

24. He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But

there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

1. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is

perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2. Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that

hasteth with his feet sinneth.

3. The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth

against Jehovah.

4. Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.

5. A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies

shall not escape.

6. Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a

friend to him that giveth gifts.

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends

go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone.

8. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth

understanding shall find good.

9. A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies

shall perish.

10. Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to

have rule over princes.

11. The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory

to pass over a transgression.

12. The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew

upon the grass.

13. A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a

wife are a continual dropping.

14. House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife

is from Jehovah.

15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer

hunger.

16. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is

careless of his ways shall die.

17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good

deed will he pay him again.

18. Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his

destruction.

19. A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver

[him], thou must do it yet again.

20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy

latter end.

21. There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah,

that shall stand.

22. That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man

is better than a liar.

23. The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall

abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.

24. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as

bring it to his mouth again.

25. Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one

that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.

26. He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is

a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

27. Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of

knowledge.

28. A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked

swalloweth iniquity.

29. Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of

fools.

1. Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby

is not wise.

2. The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him

to anger sinneth [against] his own life.

3. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will

be quarrelling.

4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall

beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5. Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of

understanding will draw it out.

6. Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man

who can find?

7. A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children

after him.

8. A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil

with his eyes.

9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10. Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an

abomination to Jehovah.

11. Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be

pure, and whether it be right.

12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of

them.

13. Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou

shalt be satisfied with bread.

14. It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way,

then he boasteth.

15. There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are

a precious jewel.

16. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge

[that is surety] for foreigners.

17. Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall

be filled with gravel.

18. Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make

thou war.

19. He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore

company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in

blackness of darkness.

21. An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end

thereof shall not be blessed.

22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will

save thee.

23. Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is

not good.

24. A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

25. It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to

make inquiry.

26. A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing-wheel

over them.

27. The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost

parts.

28. Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by

kindness.

29. The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is

the hoary head.

30. Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the

innermost parts.

1. The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He

turneth it whithersoever he will.

2. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weighteth the

hearts.

3. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than

sacrifice.

4. A high look, and a proud heart, [Even] the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5. The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; But every

one that is hasty [hasteth] only to want.

6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro

by them that seek death.

7. The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse

to do justice.

8. The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as

for the pure, his work is right.

9. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a

contentious woman in a wide house.

10. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in

his eyes.

11. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the

wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12. The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, [How] the

wicked are overthrown to [their] ruin.

13. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but

shall not be heard.

14. A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong

wrath.

15. It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to

the workers of iniquity.

16. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in

the assembly of the dead.

17. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and

oil shall not be rich.

18. The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous [cometh]

in the stead of the upright.

19. It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and

fretful woman.

20. There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a

foolish man swalloweth it up.

21. He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life,

righteousness, and honor.

22. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the

strength of the confidence thereof.

23. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.

24. The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the

arrogance of pride.

25. The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor.

26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous

giveth and withholdeth not.

27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he

bringeth it with a wicked mind!

28. A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so

as to endure.

29. A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he

establisheth his ways.

30. There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of

Jehovah.

1. A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving

favor rather than silver and gold.

2. The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.

3. A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass

on, and suffer for it.

4. The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah [Is] riches, and

honor, and life.

5. Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his

soul shall be far from them.

6. Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he

will not depart from it.

7. The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the

lender.

8. He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath

shall fail.

9. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his

bread to the poor.

10. Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and

ignominy will cease.

11. He that loveth pureness of heart, [For] the grace of his lips the king

will be his friend.

12. The eyes of Jehovah preserve [him that hath] knowledge; But he

overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

13. The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the

streets.

14. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of

Jehovah shall fall therein.

15. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [But] the rod of

correction shall drive it far from him.

16. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain], [And] he that

giveth to the rich, [shall come] only to want.

17. Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart

unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be

established together upon thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee

this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and

knowledge,

21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou

mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

22. Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in

the gate:

23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that

despoil them.

24. Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a

wrathful man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.

26. Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [Or] of them that are

sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed

from under thee?

28. Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

29. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before

kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is

before thee;

2 And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite.

3 Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.

4. Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly

make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.

6. Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire

thou his dainties:

7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to

thee; But his heart is not with thee.

8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy

sweet words.

9. Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of

thy words.

10. Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the

fatherless:

11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee.

12. Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of

knowledge.

13 Withhold not correction from the child; [For] if thou beat him with

the rod, he will not die.

14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from

Sheol.

15 My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:

16 Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.

17. Let not thy heart envy sinners; But [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah

all the day long:

18 For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.

19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness

will clothe [a man] with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother

when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; [Yea], wisdom, and instruction, and

understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that

begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.

25 Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee

rejoice.

26 My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.

27 For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.

28 Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous

among men.

29. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath

complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the

cup, When it goeth down smoothly:

32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter

perverse things.

34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or

as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35 They have stricken me, [shalt thou say], and I was not hurt; They have

beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

1. Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:

2 For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.

3. Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is

established;

4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant

riches.

5 A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.

6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of

counsellors there is safety.

7. Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to

men.

10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.

11. Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are

ready to be slain see that thou hold back.

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not he that weigheth

the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?

And shall not he render to every man according to his work?

13. My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the

honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:

14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it,

then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.

15. Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous;

Destroy not his resting-place:

16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the

wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad

when he is overthrown;

18 Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath

from him.

19. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the

wicked:

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked

shall be put out.

21. My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; [And] company not with them

that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them

both, who knoweth it?

23. These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in

judgment is not good.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse

him, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, And a good blessing

shall come upon them.

26 He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.

27. Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And

afterwards build thy house.

28. Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not

with thy lips.

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to

the man according to his work.

30. I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man

void of understanding;

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was

covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:

33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands

to sleep;

34 So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 25

1. These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of

Judah copied out.

2. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to

search out a matter.

3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of

kings is unsearchable.

4. Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel

for the refiner:

5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be

established in righteousness.

6. Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in

the place of great men:

7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that

thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes

have seen.

8. Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the

end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the

secret of another;

10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.

11. A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.

12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise

reprover upon an obedient ear.

13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [So is] a faithful

messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14. [As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of

his gifts falsely.

15. By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh

the bone.

16. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest

thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17. Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of

thee, and hate thee.

18. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a

sword, and a sharp arrow.

19. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken

tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20. [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar

upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

21. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty,

give him water to drink:

22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will

reward thee.

23. The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an

angry countenance.

24. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a

contentious woman in a wide house.

25. [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far

country.

26. [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous

man that giveth way before the wicked.

27. It is not good to eat much honey: So [for men] to search out their own

glory is grievous.

28. He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken

down and without walls.

1. As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a

fool.

2. As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the

curse that is causeless alighteth not.

3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of

fools.

4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto

him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own

conceit.

6. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own]

feet, [and] drinketh in damage.

7 The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a

fool.

9 [As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable

in the mouth of fools.

10. [As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he

that hireth them that pass by.

11. As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth

his folly.

12. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool

than of him.

13. The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the

streets.

14. [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his

bed.

15. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it

again to his mouth.

16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can

render a reason.

17. He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to

him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18. As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in

sport?

20. For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer,

contention ceaseth.

21 [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious

man to inflame strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into

the innermost parts.

23. Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid

with silver dross.

24. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit

within him:

25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven

abominations in his heart:

26 Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be

openly showed before the assembly.

27. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone,

it shall return upon him.

28. A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering

mouth worketh ruin.

1. Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may

bring forth.

2. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and

not thine own lips.

3. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool's vexation is

heavier than they both.

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand

before jealousy?

5. Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are

profuse.

7. The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter

thing is sweet.

8. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from

his place.

9. Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's

friend [that cometh] of hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; And go not to

thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that

is near than a brother far off.

11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that

reproacheth me.

12. A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; [But] the simple

pass on, [and] suffer for it.

13. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge

[that is surety] for a foreign woman.

14. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the

morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.

15. A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are

alike:

16 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand

encountereth oil.

17. Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his

friend.

18. Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that

regardeth his master shall be honored.

19. As in water face [answereth] to face, So the heart of man to man.

20. Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never

satisfied.

21. The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is

[tried] by his praise.

22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with

bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [And] look well to

thy herds:

24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all

generations?

25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs

of the mountains are gathered in.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the

field;

27 And [there will be] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of

thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.

1. The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a

lion.

2. For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by

men of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be

prolonged.

3. A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is [like] a sweeping rain which

leaveth no food.

4. They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law

contend with them.

5. Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek Jehovah understand

all things.

6. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is

perverse in [his] ways, though he be rich.

7. Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of

gluttons shameth his father.

8. He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it

for him that hath pity on the poor.

9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is

an abomination.

10. Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall

himself into his own pit; But the perfect shall inherit good.

11. The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath

understanding searcheth him out.

12. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked

rise, men hide themselves.

13. He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso

confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.

14. Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart

shall fall into mischief.

15. [As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, [So is] a wicked ruler over a

poor people.

16. The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; [But]

he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

17. A man that is laden with the blood of any person Shall flee unto the

pit; Let no man stay him.

18. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in

[his] ways shall fall at once.

19. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that

followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.

20. A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste

to be rich shall not be unpunished.

21. To have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should

transgress for a piece of bread.

22. he that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that

want shall come upon him.

23. He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor Than he that

flattereth with the tongue.

24. Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no

transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer.

25. He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth

his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.

26. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely,

he shall be delivered.

27. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his

eyes shall have many a curse.

28. When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the

righteous increase.

1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be

destroyed, and that without remedy.

2. When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked

man beareth rule, the people sigh.

3. Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company

with harlots wasteth [his] substance.

4. The king by justice establisheth the land; But he that exacteth gifts

overthroweth it.

5. A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.

6. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous

doth sing and rejoice.

7. The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked

hath not understanding to know [it].

8. Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.

9. If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be

angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

10. The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect; And as for the upright,

they seek his life.

11. A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and

stilleth it.

12. If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.

13. The poor man and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the

eyes of them both.

14. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be

established for ever.

15. The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth

shame to his mother.

16. When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the

righteous shall look upon their fall.

17. Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yea, he will give delight

unto thy soul.

18. Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that

keepeth the law, happy is he.

19. A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he

will not give heed.

20. Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a

fool than of him.

21. He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him

become a son at the last.

22. An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in

transgression.

23. A man's pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit

shall obtain honor.

24. Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the

adjuration and uttereth nothing.

25. The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in

Jehovah shall be safe.

26. Many seek the ruler's favor; But a man's judgment [cometh] from

Jehovah.

27. An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; And he that is

upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle. The man saith unto

Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding

of a man;

3 And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy

One.

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the

wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath

established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his

son's name, if thou knowest?

5 Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge

in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a

liar.

7. Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me [them] not before I die:

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; 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 Jehovah? Or lest I be

poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.

10. Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be

held guilty.

11 There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their

mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And [yet] are

not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids

are lifted up.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are [as] swords, and their jaw teeth

[as] knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from

among men.

15. The horseleach hath two daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are

three things that are never satisfied, [Yea], four that say not, Enough:

16 Sheol; And the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with

water; And the fire that saith not, Enough.

17 The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother,

The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat

it.

18. There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which

I know not:

19 The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The

way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.

20 So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her

mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.

21 For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, [which] it

cannot bear:

22 For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;

23 For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir

to her mistress.

24. There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are

exceeding wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the

summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the

rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The lizard taketh hold with her hands, Yet is she in kings' palaces.

29. There are three things which are stately in their march, Yea, four

which are stately in going:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turneth not away for

any;

31 The greyhound; The he-goat also; And the king against whom there is no

rising up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, Or if thou hast

thought evil, [Lay] thy hand upon thy mouth.

33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the wringing of

the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth

strife.

1. The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth

kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor

for princes [to say], Where is strong drink?

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice [due] to

any that is afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the

bitter in soul:

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left

desolate.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and

needy.

10. A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of

gain.

12 She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her

household, And their task to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands

she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not

out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her

hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household

are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen

and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of

the land.

24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles

unto the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to

come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her

tongue.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the

bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he

praiseth her, [saying]:

29 Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.

30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; [But] a woman that feareth

Jehovah, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in

the gates.