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The Proverbs of Solomon




     

The Proverbs

Chapter 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, King of Yisrayah [Israel].

2 To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity,

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

5 that the wise man may hear and increase in learning, that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,

6 understand a proverb, a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7 The fear of Yahwah is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forget the instructions of your mother.

9 For they are a chaplet of grace to your head, and chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11 They will say: Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause,

12 let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down into the pit.

13 We will find all precious substance, we will fill our houses with spoil.

14 You will cast your lot among us, we will all have one purse.

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Refrain your foot from their path.

16 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

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

18 These lay wait for their own blood, they lurk privately for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, it takes away the life of its owners.

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she utters her voice in the broad places.

21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates. In the city, she utters her words:

22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight in scoffing? And fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I pour my spirit out upon you, I make my words known to you.

24 I called, and you refused. I stretched out my hand, and no man regards.

25 You set all my advice aside, and would have none of my reproof.

26 I laugh in the day of your calamity. I mock when your fear comes.

27 Your fear comes as a storm, and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

29 For they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahwah.

30 They would have none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof.

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

32 The backsliding of the simple kills them, the careless ease of fools destroys them.

33 But who ever hearkens to me dwells securely, and is quiet without fear of evil.

Chapter 2

1 My son, receive my words, lay up my commandments with you,

2 so as to incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.

3 Yea, cry after discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding.

4 Seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures.

5 Then you will understand the fear of Yahwah, and find the knowledge of Yahwah.

6 For Yahwah gives wisdom. Out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

7 He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.

8 He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and equity, yea, every good path.

10 Wisdom will enter into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

12 to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men that speak perverse things,

13 (who abandon 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 you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner that flatters with her words

17 (who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her gods,

18 for her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead,

19 none that go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life),

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

21 The upright dwell in the land, and the perfect remain in it.

22 But the wicked are cut off from the land, and the treacherous are rooted out of it.

Chapter 3

1 My son, do not forget my laws, but let your heart keep my commandments.

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

3 Let kindness and truth not leave you. Bind them about your neck. Write them upon the tablet of your heart,

4 so you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of Yahwah, and man.

5 Trust in Yahwah with all your heart, and do not lean upon your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahwah, and depart from evil.

8 It is health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.

9 Honor Yahwah with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all your increase.

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of Yahwah, neither be weary of His reproof.

12 For Yahwah reproves who He loves, even as a father the son in whom he delights.

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

14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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 those who lay hold upon her, and happy is every one who has her.

19 By wisdom Yahwah 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 your eyes, keep sound wisdom and discretion.

22 So they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.

23 Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yea, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.

26 Yahwah is your confidence, and keeps your foot from being taken.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor: Go, come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you.

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.

30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he did you no harm.

31 Do not envy the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.

32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahwah, but His friendship is with the upright.

33 The curse of Yahwah is in the house of the wicked, but He blesses the habitation of the righteous.

34 Surely He scoffs at the scoffers, but He gives grace to the lowly.

35 The wise inherit glory, but shame is the promotion of fools.

Chapter 4

1 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2 I give you good doctrine. Do not forget my instructions.

3 I was a son to my father, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

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

5 Get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget, neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forget her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom. The starting point of wisdom is this: get wisdom. Yea, with all your getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.

9 She will give a chaplet of grace to your head. A crown of beauty she will deliver to you.

10 Hear, O my son, receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.

11 I teach you in the way of wisdom, I lead you in paths of uprightness.

12 When you go, your steps will not be straitened. If you run, you will not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction, do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

16 For they do not sleep, except they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 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 shines more and more to the perfect day.

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

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

21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them secure in your heart.

22 They are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

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

24 Put a wayward mouth away from you, and put perverse lips far from you.

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

26 Make the path of your feet level, and let all your ways be established.

27 Do not turn to the right hand, nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.

Chapter 5

1 My son, attend to my Wisdom. Incline your ear to my understanding,

2 that you preserve discretion, and that your lips may keep knowledge.

3 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 the grave,

6 so she does not find the level path of life. Her ways are unstable, and she does not know it.

7 My sons, hearken to me, do not depart from the words of my mouth.

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

9 otherwise you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel;

10 unless strangers are filled with your strength, and your labors are in the house of an alien;

11 or you mourn at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed;

12 and you say: How I hate instruction, and my heart despises reproof.

13 Neither do I obey the voice of my teachers, nor incline my ear to those who instruct me!

14 I was well-near in all evil in the midst of the assembly and congregation.

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

16 Should your springs be dispersed abroad, and streams of water in the streets?

17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.

18 Let your fountain be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 As a loving hind and a pleasant doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be always ravished with her love.

20 My son, why should you be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

21 The ways of man are before the eyes of Yahwah, and He makes all his paths level.

22 His own iniquities take the wicked, he is held with the cords of his sin.

23 He dies for lack of instruction, and he goes astray in the greatness of his folly.

Chapter 6

1 My son, if you become surety for your neighbor, if you strike your hands for a stranger,

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

3 Do this now, my son, deliver yourself, seeing you are come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself, and satisfy your neighbor.

4 Do not give sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

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

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise.

7 Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

8 provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

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

11 So your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he that walks with a perverse mouth,

13 that winks with his eyes, that speaks with his feet, that makes signs with his fingers,

14 in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, and who sows discord.

15 Therefore his calamity comes suddenly. On a sudden he is broken, and that without remedy.

16 There are six things Yahwah hates. Yea, seven which are an abomination to Him:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked purposes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

19 a false witness that utters lies, and he that sows discord among brothers.

20 My son, keep the commandments of your father, do not forget the rules of your mother.

21 Bind them continually upon your heart. Tie them about your neck.

22 When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. And when you awake, it will talk with you.

23 For the commandments are a lamp, the law is light.

24 Reproofs of instruction are the way of life to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the foreigner's tongue.

25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her take you with her eyelids.

26 For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes are not burned?

28 Or can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet are not scorched?

29 So he that goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whosoever touches her will not be unpunished.

30 Men do not despise a thief if he steal to satisfy himself when he is hungry.

31 But if he is found, he will restore sevenfold. He will give all the substance of his house.

32 He that commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it would destroy his own soul.

33 Wounds and dishonor he gets, and his reproach is not wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man, and Yahwah will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom. Neither will He rest content, though you give many gifts.

Chapter 7

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

2 Keep my commandments and live, my law is the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them upon your fingers. Write them upon the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom: You are my sister.

5 Call understanding your kinswoman. They may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner that flatters with her words.

6 For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice, and I beheld among the simple ones.

7 I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner.

8 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 Behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.

11 She is clamorous and wilful. Her feet do not abide in her house.

12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, and lies in wait at every corner.

13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

14 Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me, I paid my vows today.

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

16 I spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

17 I 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 took a bag of money with him, he will come home at the full moon.

21 With her much fair speech she causes him to yield. With the flattering of her lips she forces him along.

22 He goes right after her, as an ox goes 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 hastes to the snare, and does not know it is for his life.

24 My sons, hearken to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Do not let your heart decline to her ways, do not go astray in her paths.

26 For she has cast down many wounded. Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

27 Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.

Chapter 8

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

2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:

4 I call to you, O men. My voice is to the sons of men.

5 O you simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 Hear, for I speak excellent things. The opening of my lips are right things.

7 For my mouth utters truth. 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 understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver. Knowledge, rather than choice gold.

11 Wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I, Wisdom, make prudence my dwelling, to find out knowledge, and discretion.

13 The fear of Yahwah is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogancy, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

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 those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will 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 who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

22 Yahwah 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 I was 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 the skies firm 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. I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him,

31 rejoicing in His habitable earth. My delight is with the sons of men.

32 So hearken to me, my sons. Blessed are those who keep my ways.

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

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

35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor of Yahwah.

36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.

Chapter 9

1 Wisdom built her house. She hewd out her seven pillars.

2 She killed her beasts, she mingled her wine, she also furnished her table.

3 She sent forth her maidens, she cries upon the highest places of the city:

4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here. As for him that is void of understanding, she says to him:

5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine I mingled.

6 Leave off, you simple ones, walk in the way of understanding, and live.

7 He that corrects a scoffer gets to himself reviling. He that reproves a wicked man gets himself a blot.

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of Yahwah is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For your days are multiplied by me, and the years of your life are increased.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The foolish woman is clamorous. She is simple, and knows nothing.

14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways.

16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in there. As for him that is void of understanding, she says to him:

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

18 But he does not know the dead are there, her guests are in the depths of the grave.

Chapter 10

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

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

3 Yahwah does not allow the soul of the righteous to famish, but He thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

4 He who works with a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

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

6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise in heart receives commandments, but a prating fool falls.

9 He that walks uprightly walks surely, but he that perverts his ways will be known.

10 He that winks with the eye causes sorrow, and a prating fool will fall.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up strifes, but love covers all transgressions.

13 Wisdom is found in the lips of him that has discernment, 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 tends to life, the increase of the wicked, to sin.

17 He who heeds correction is in the way of life, but he that hates reproof errs.

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

19 In the multitude of words there does not want transgression, but he that refrains his lips does 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 feeds many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

22 The blessing of Yahwah makes rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.

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 comes upon him, and the desire of the righteous is granted.

25 When the whirlwind passes 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 those who send him.

27 The fear of Yahwah prolongs days, but the years of the wicked are shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of Yahwah is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous will never be removed, and the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue is cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverseness.

Chapter 11

1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahwah, but a just weight is His delight.

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

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perverseness of the treacherous destroys them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect directs his way, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken in their own iniquity.

7 When a wicked man dies his expectation perishes, the hope of iniquity perishes.

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

9 With his mouth the unrighteous man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous are delivered through knowledge.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, 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 despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 He that goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

15 He that is surety for a stranger will smart for it, while he that hates suretyship is secure.

16 A gracious woman obtains honor, and violent men obtain riches.

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

18 The wicked earn deceitful wages, but he that sows righteousness has a sure reward.

19 He that is stedfast in righteousness attains to life, and he that pursues evil does it to his own death.

20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahwah, but such as are perfect in their way are His delight.

21 Though hand join in hand, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous will 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 one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is meet, but it tends only to want.

25 The liberal soul will be made fat. He that waters will be watered himself.

26 The people curse he who withholds grain, but blessing is upon the head of him who sells it.

27 He that diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he that searches after evil, it will come to him.

28 He that trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish as the green leaf.

29 He that troubles his own house inherits the wind, and the foolish are servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He that is wise wins souls.

31 Behold, the righteous are recompensed in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Chapter 12

1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he that hates reproof is brutish.

2 A good man obtains favor of Yahwah, but He condemns a man of wicked devices.

3 A man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.

4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but she that makes 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 will deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not, but the house of the righteous will stand.

8 A man is commended according to his wisdom, but he that is of a perverse heart is despised.

9 Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, than he that honors himself, and lacks bread.

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

11 He that tills his land has plenty of bread, but he that follows after vain persons is void of understanding.

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

13 In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man, but the righteous comes out of trouble.

14 A man is satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the doings of a man's hands will be rendered to him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that is wise hearkens to counsel.

16 A fool's vexation is soon known, but a prudent man conceals shame.

17 He that utters truth shows forth righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.

18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.

19 The lip of truth is established forever, and a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

21 There will no mischief happen to the righteous, but the wicked are filled with evil.

22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahwah, but those who deal truly are His delight.

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

24 The hand of the diligent bear rule, but the slothful are put under taskwork.

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

26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked causes them to err.

27 The slothful man does not roast what he took in hunting, but the precious substance of men is to the diligent.

28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in that pathway there is no death.

Chapter 13

1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not hear rebuke.

2 A man eats good by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the treacherous eats violence.

3 He that guards his mouth keeps his life, but he that opens his lips wide has destruction.

4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.

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

6 Righteousness guards him that is upright in the way, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing. There is one who makes himself poor, yet has great wealth.

8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor hears no threatening.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked is put out.

10 By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity will be diminished, but he that gathers by labor will have increase.

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

13 Whoever despises the Word brings destruction on himself, but he that fears the commandments is rewarded.

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

15 Good understanding gives favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.

16 Every prudent man works with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame are to him that refuses correction, but he that regards reproof is 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 you will be wise, but the companion of fools will smart for it.

21 Evil pursues sinners, but the righteous are recompensed with good.

22 A good man leaves 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 one who is destroyed by reason of injustice.

24 He that spares his rod hates his son, but he that loves him chastens him.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked will want.

Chapter 14

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

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahwah, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride, but the lips of the wise 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 utters lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him that has understanding.

7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, and you will not perceive the lips of knowledge in him.

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

9 A trespass-offering mocks fools, but among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not intermeddle with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart is filled with his own ways, and a good man is satisfied from himself.

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

16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil. The fool bears 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. The wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

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

21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth will be to those who devise good.

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

24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is only folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls, but he that utters lies causes deceit.

26 In the fear of Yahwah is strong confidence, and His children have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of Yahwah is a fountain of life, that one may depart from the snares of death.

28 The king's glory is in the multitude of people, 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 exalts folly.

30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he that has mercy on the needy honors Him.

32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding, but what is in the inward part of fools is made known.

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

35 The king's favor is toward a servant that deals wisely, but his wrath is against him that causes shame.

Chapter 15

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a grievous word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise utters knowledge, but the mouth of fools pours out folly.

3 The eyes of Yahwah are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good.

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness is a breaking of the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he that regards reproof gets 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 does not so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahwah, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahwah, but He loves him who follows after righteousness.

10 There is grievous correction for him that forgets The Way, and he that hates reproof dies.

11 The grave and Abaddon are visible to Yahwah, how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

12 A scoffer does not love to be reproved, he will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

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

16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahwah, than great treasure and trouble.

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

18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but he that is slow to anger appeases 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 makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding makes his going straight.

22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

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

24 To the wise the way of life goes upward, that he may depart from the grave beneath.

25 Yahwah roots up the house of the proud, but He establishes the border of the widow.

26 Evil devices are an abomination to Yahwah, but pleasant words are pure.

27 He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, but he that hates bribes will live.

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

29 Yahwah is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good tidings make the bones fat.

31 The ear that hearkens to the reproof of life will abide among the wise.

32 He that refuses correction despises his own soul, but he that hearkens to reproof gets understanding.

33 The fear of Yahwah is the instruction of wisdom, and humility goes before honor.

Chapter 16

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahwah.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahwah weighs the spirits.

3 Commit your works to Yahwah, and your purposes will be established.

4 Yahwah 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 Yahwah, though hand join in hand, he will not be unpunished.

6 Iniquity is atoned for by mercy and truth, and men depart from evil by the fear of Yahwah.

7 When a man's ways please Yahwah, He makes 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 devises his way, but Yahwah directs his steps.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king, his mouth will not transgress in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales are Yahwah'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, they love him who speaks 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 it is 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 keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes 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 gives heed to the Word finds good, and he who trusts in Yahwah is happy.

21 The wise in heart are called prudent, and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a well-spring of life to him who has it, but the correction of fools is their folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds 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 seems right to a man, but the end of it is the way of death.

26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.

27 A worthless man devises mischief, and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

28 A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates best friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He that shuts his eyes, it is to devise perverse things. He that compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

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

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

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing of it is of Yahwah.

Chapter 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant that deals wisely will have rule over a son that causes shame, and will have part in the inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahwah tries the hearts.

4 An evil-doer gives heed to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he that is glad at calamity will not be unpunished.

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

7 Excellent speech does not become a fool, much less do lying lips a prince.

8 A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it. Where ever it turns, it prospers.

9 He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that harps on a matter separates best friends.

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one that has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, therefore a cruel messenger is sent against him.

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

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water, therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahwah.

16 Is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he has no understanding?

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

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

19 He who loves strife loves transgression, he who raises his gate high seeks destruction.

20 He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

21 He who begets a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has 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 who bore him.

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

27 He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

Chapter 18

1 He who isolates himself seeks his own desire, and rages against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.

3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also, and with ignominy comes 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 calls 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 Yahwah is a strong tower, the righteous runs 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 The heart of man is haughty before destruction, and humility goes before honor.

13 He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a man sustains his infirmity, but who can bear a broken spirit?

15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

17 He who pleads his cause first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.

18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and parts 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 is filled with the fruit of his mouth, with the increase of his lips he is satisfied.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahwah.

23 The poor uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.

24 He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Chapter 19

1 Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also, the soul that is without knowledge is not good. He that hastes with his feet sins.

3 The foolishness of man subverts his way, and his heart frets against Yahwah.

4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not be unpunished, and he that utters lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the liberal man, and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him, how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

8 He that gets wisdom loves his own soul, he that keeps understanding finds good.

9 A false witness will not be unpunished, and he that utters lies will 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 makes 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 Yahwah.

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and the idle soul suffers hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandments keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.

17 He who has pity upon the poor lends to Yahwah, He will pay him his good deed again.

18 Chasten your son, seeing there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath bears the penalty, for if you deliver him, you must do it yet again.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart, but the counsel of Yahwah stands.

22 What makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Yahwah tends to life, and he who has it will abide satisfied. He will not be visited with evil.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple learn prudence. Reprove one who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He who does violence to his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame, and brings reproach.

27 My son, cease to hear instruction only to err from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.

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

Chapter 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whosoever errs by them is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins 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 does not plow by reason of the winter, therefore he begs in harvest, and has nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out.

6 Most men proclaim every one his own kindness, but who can find a faithful man?

7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

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

10 Different weights, and different measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahwah.

11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahwah made both of them.

13 Do not love sleep, else you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14 It is bad, it is bad: says the buyer. But when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

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 is filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel, and you make war by wise guidance.

19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets, therefore do not company with him who opens his lips wide.

20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp is put out in blackness of darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end of it is not blessed.

22 Do not say: I will recompense evil. Wait for Yahwah, and He will save you.

23 Different weights are an abomination to Yahwah, and a false balance is not good.

24 A man's goings are of Yahwah, how then can man understand His way?

25 It is a snare to a man to say rashly: It is holy; after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the threshing wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Yahwah, searching all his innermost parts.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld 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.

Chapter 21

1 The king's heart is in the hand of Yahwah as the watercourses. He turns it however He will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahwah weighs the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahwah 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 hurries only to want.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to and fro by those who seek death.

7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do justice.

8 The way of him who 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 desires evil, his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous man considers the house of the wicked, how the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.

13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry, but will not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies 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 who wanders out of the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man, he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous comes instead 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 swallows it up.

21 He that follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name, he works in the arrogance of pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

26 There is one who covets greedily all the day long, but the righteous gives and does not withhold.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!

28 A false witness will perish, but the man who hears will speak so as to endure.

29 A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, against Yahwah.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but victory is of Yahwah.

Chapter 22

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, Yahwah is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself. The simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4 The reward of humility and the fear of Yahwah is riches, honor, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse, he who keeps his soul is 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 rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He who sows iniquity reaps calamity, and the rod of his wrath fails.

9 He who has a bountiful eye is blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

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

11 He who loves pureness of heart, the king will be his friend for the grace of his lips.

12 The eyes of Yahwah preserve him who has knowledge, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

13 The sluggard says: There is a lion outside, I will be killed in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit, he who is abhorred of Yahwah falls right in.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction drives it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his gain, and he who gives to the rich, will only come to want.

17 Incline your ear, hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.

18 It is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if they are established together upon your lips.

19 I make them known to you today, even to you, that your trust may be in Yahwah.

20 Did I not write excellent things of counsels and knowledge to you,

21 to make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may carry back words of truth to those who send you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor. Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate,

23 for Yahwah pleads their cause, and despoils of life those that despoil them.

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

25 Do not go with a wrathful man, or you may learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.

26 Do not be one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.

27 If you do not have anything to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark, which your fathers set.

29 See a man diligent in his business? He will stand before kings, he will not stand before mean men.

Chapter 23

1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, diligently consider him who is before you,

2 and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.

3 Do not be desirous of his dainties, seeing they are deceitful food.

4 Do not weary yourself to be rich, cease from your own wisdom.

5 Will you set your eyes upon what is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward heaven.

6 Do not eat the bread of him that has an evil eye, neither desire his dainties,

7 for as he thinks within himself, so he is. Eat and drink: he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the morsel you ate, and lose your sweet words.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he despises the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not remove the ancient landmark, and do not enter into the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Redeemer is strong. He pleads their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod, he will not die.

14 You will beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from the grave.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will be glad, even mine.

16 Yea, my heart rejoices when your lips speak right things.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be in the fear of Yahwah all the day long,

18 for surely there is a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, be wise, and guide your heart in the way.

20 Do not be among winebibbers, among gluttonous eaters of flesh,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty. Drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 Hearken to your father who begat you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it. Yea, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous rejoices greatly, and he who begets a wise child has joy of him.

25 Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

27 A harlot is a deep ditch, and a foreign woman is a narrow pit.

28 Yea, she lies in wait as a robber, and increases the treacherous among men.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who tarry long at the wine, those who go to seek out mixed wine.

31 Do not look upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.

33 Your eyes behold strange things, and your heart utters perverse things.

34 Yea, you are as he that lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lies upon the top of a mast.

35 You will say: They struck me, and I was not hurt. They beat me, and I did not feel it. When will I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Chapter 24

1 Do not be envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them,

2 for their heart studies oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.

4 By knowledge the chambers are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong, yea, a man of knowledge increases might,

6 for by wise guidance you make your war, and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, he does not open his mouth in the gate.

8 He who devises to do evil, men will call him a mischief-maker.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

11 Deliver those who are carried away to death, and see that you hold back those that are ready to be killed.

12 If you say: Behold, we did not know this. Does He who weighs the hearts not consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? Will He not render to every man according to his work?

13 My son, eat your honey, for it is good, and the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.

14 So you will know wisdom to be to your soul. If you find it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.

15 O wicked man, do not lay wait against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting-place,

16 for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,

18 unless Yahwah see it, it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.

19 Do not fret yourself because of evil-doers, neither be envious at the wicked,

20 for there is no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear Yahwah and the king, and do not company with those who are given to change,

22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. The destruction from them both, who knows it?

23 These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.

24 He who says to the wicked: You are righteous. Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him.

25 But to those who rebuke him will be delight, and a good blessing comes upon them.

26 He kisses the lips who gives a right answer.

27 Prepare your work outside, make it ready for you in the field, and afterwards build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say: I do so to him as he did to me, I 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 Lo, it was all grown over with thorns. The face of it was covered with nettles, and the stone wall 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 your poverty comes as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

Chapter 25

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekyah king of Yahudah copied out:

2 It is the glory of Yahwah 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 are unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes forth a vessel for the refiner.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne is established in righteousness.

6 Do not put yourself forward in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men,

7 for it is better that it be said to you: Come up here. Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes see.

8 Do not go forth hastily to strive, unless you do not know what to do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame.

9 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself. Do not disclose the secret of another,

10 or else he who hears it reviles you, and your infamy not turn 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 those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he that boasts himself of his gifts falsely.

15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

16 Have you found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for you, unless you are filled, and vomit it.

17 Let your foot be in your neighbor's house seldom, unless he is weary of you, and hate you.

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, 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 who takes off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22 for you heap coals of fire upon his head, and Yahwah will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain, so does 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 who gives 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.

Chapter 26

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 does not take hold.

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

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you also are like to him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, unless he is wise in his own conceit.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet, and drinks in damage.

7 The legs of the lame hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As one that binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 As an archer that wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.

11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 See a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13 The sluggard says: There is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets.

14 As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, it wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.

17 He who passes by, and vexes himself with strife not belonging to him, is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says: Am I not in sport?

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.

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 who hates dissembles with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.

25 When he speaks fair, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness is openly shown before the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit falls in. He who rolls a stone [uphill], it returns upon him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it wounds, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Chapter 27

1 Do not boast yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your 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 loathes a honeycomb, but every bitter thing is sweet to the hungry soul.

8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place.

9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart, so does the sweetness of a man's friend that comes of hearty counsel.

10 Do not forsake your own friend, and your father's friend. Do not go to your brother's house in the day of your 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 who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself. The simple pass on, and suffer for it.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge who is surety for a foreign woman.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:

16 he who would restrain her restrains the wind, and his right hand encounters oil.

17 Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoever keeps the fig-tree eats the fruit, and he who regards his master is honored.

19 As in water face answers to face, so the heart of man to man.

20 The grave 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, a man is tried by his praise.

22 Even if you were to bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds,

24 for riches are not forever, and does the crown endure to all generations?

25 The hay is carried, the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27 There will be goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and maintenance for your maidens.

Chapter 28

1 The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes of it, but by men of understanding and knowledge the state of it is prolonged.

3 A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

4 Those who forget the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek Yahwah understand all things.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, though he is rich.

7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 He who augments his substance by interest and increase, gathers it for him who has pity on the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he falls himself into his own pit, but the perfect inherits good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor who has understanding searches him out.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory. But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 He who hides his transgressions will not prosper, but those who confess and abandons them will obtain mercy.

14 Happy is the man who always fears, but he who hardens his heart will fall into mischief.

15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 The prince who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

17 A man who is laden with the blood of any person will flee to the pit, let no man stay him.

18 Whoever walks uprightly will be delivered, but he who is perverse in his ways will fall at once.

19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows after vain persons will have poverty enough.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hurries to be rich will 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 who has an evil eye hurries after riches, and does not know want will come upon him.

23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says: It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

25 He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in Yahwah is made fat.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves. But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Chapter 29

1 He who is often reproved and hardens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, and that without remedy.

2 When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man bears rule, the people sigh.

3 Whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father, but he who keeps company with harlots wastes his substance.

4 The king establishes the land by justice, but he who exacts gifts overthrows it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare, but the righteous sings, and rejoices.

7 The righteous takes knowledge of the cause of the poor, the wicked has not understanding to know it.

8 Scoffers set a city in a flame, but wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, whether he is angry or laugh, there is no rest.

10 The bloodthirsty hates him who is perfect, and as for the upright, they seek his life.

11 A fool utters all his anger, but a wise man keeps it back and stills it.

12 If a ruler hearkens to falsehood, all his servants are wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together, Yahwah lightens the eyes of them both.

14 The king who faithfully judges the poor, his throne is established forever.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked are increased, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their fall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest. Yea, he will give delight to your soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint, but he who keeps the law is happy.

19 A servant is not corrected by words, for though he understand, he will not give heed.

20 See a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

21 He who delicately brings up his servant from a child will have him become a son at the last.

22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in transgression.

23 A man's pride brings him low, but he who is of a lowly spirit obtains honor.

24 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul, he hears the adjuration and utters nothing.

25 The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahwah is safe.

26 Many seek the ruler's favor, but a man's judgment comes from Yahwah.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

Chapter 30

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle. The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man.

3 I did not learn wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who gathered the wind in His fists? Who bound the waters in His garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, and what is His Son's name, if you know? [John 3:13]

5 Every word of Yahwah is tried, He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6 Do not add to His words, unless He reproves you, and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you, do not deny them to me 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 unless I am full, deny you, and say: Who is Yahwah? Or unless I am poor, steal, and use the Name of my Father profanely.

10 Do not slander a servant to his master, unless he curse you, and you are held guilty.

11 There is a generation who curses their father, and not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthyness.

13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! 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 has two daughters, crying: Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four that do not say: Enough.

16 The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that does not say: Enough.

17 The eye who mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I do not know:

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 eats, wipes her mouth, and says: I did no wickedness.

21 For three things the earth does tremble, and for four, which it cannot bear:

22 for a servant when he is king, 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 they make their houses in the rocks;

27 the locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands;

28 the lizard takes hold with her hands, yet she is 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 does not turn away for any;

31 the greyhound; the he-goat also; and the king against whom there is no rising up.

32 If you do foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.

33 For the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood, so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.

Chapter 31

1 The words of king Lemuel; the oracle his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to what destroys 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 Or they drink, forget the law, and pervert the justice due to any who is afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

7 Let him drink, forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a worthy woman? Her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant-ships, she brings her bread from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and their task to her maidens.

16 She considers a field, buys it, and with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds her loins with strength, and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She stretches out her hand to the poor, yea, she reaches 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 makes for herself carpets of tapestry, her clothing is fine linen, and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments, sells them, and delivers girdles to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed, her husband also. He praises her, saying:

29 Many daughters do worthily, but you excel them all.

30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahwah will be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.








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