Chapter 1


1

The Usefulness of Proverbs

The proverbs 4912 of Solomon 8010 the son 1121 of David 1732, king 4428 of Israel 3478:
2 To know 3045 wisdom 2451 and instruction 4148, To discern 995 the sayings 561 of understanding 998,
3 To receive 3947 instruction 4148 in wise 7919 behavior 7919, Righteousness 6664, justice 4941 and equity 4339;
4 To give 5414 prudence 6195 to the naive 6612, To the youth 5288 knowledge 1847 and discretion 4209,
5 A wise 2450 man 2450 will hear 8085 and increase 3254 in learning 3948, And a man of understanding 995 will acquire 7069 wise 8458 counsel 8458,
6 To understand 995 a proverb 4912 and a figure 4426, The words 1697 of the wise 2450 and their riddles 2420.
7 ¶ The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 is the beginning 7225 of knowledge 1847; Fools 191 despise 936 wisdom 2451 and instruction 4148.
8

The Enticement of Sinners

Hear 8085, my son 1121, your father's 1 instruction 4148 And do not forsake 5203 your mother's 517 teaching 8451;
9 Indeed 3588, they are a graceful 2580 wreath 3880 to your head 7218 And ornaments 6060 about your neck 1621.
10 My son 1121, if 518 sinners 2400 entice 6601 you, Do not consent 14.
11 If 518 they say 559, "Come 1980 with us, Let us lie 693 in wait 693 for blood 1818, Let us ambush 6845 the innocent 5355 without 2600 cause 2600;
12 Let us swallow 1104 them alive 2416 like Sheol 7585, Even whole 8549, as those who go 3381 down 3381 to the pit 953;
13 We will find 4672 all 3605 {kinds} of precious 3368 wealth 1952, We will fill 4390 our houses 1004 with spoil 7998;
14 Throw 5307 in your lot 1486 with us, We shall all 3605 have 1961 one 259 purse 3599,"
15 My son 1121, do not walk 1980 in the way 1870 with them. Keep 4513 your feet 7272 from their path 5410,
16 For their feet 7272 run 7323 to evil 7451 And they hasten 4116 to shed 8210 blood 1818.
17 Indeed 3588, it is useless 2600 to spread 2219 the {baited} net 7568 In the sight 5869 of any 3605 bird;
18 But they lie 693 in wait 693 for their own blood 1818; They ambush 6845 their own lives 5315.
19 So 3651 are the ways 734 of everyone 3605 who gains 1214 by violence 1214; It takes 3947 away the life 5315 of its possessors 1167.
20

Wisdom Warns

Wisdom 2451 shouts 7442 in the street 2351, She lifts 5414 her voice 6963 in the square 7339;
21 At the head 7218 of the noisy 1993 {streets} she cries 7121 out; At the entrance 6607 of the gates 8179 in the city 5892 she utters 559 her sayings 561:
22 "How 4970 long, O naive 6612 ones 6612, will you love 157 being simple-minded 6612? And scoffers 3917 delight 2530 themselves in scoffing 3944 And fools 3684 hate 8130 knowledge 1847?
23 "Turn 7725 to my reproof 8433, Behold 2009, I will pour 5042 out my spirit 7307 on you; I will make 3045 my words 1697 known 3045 to you.
24 "Because 3282 I called 7121 and you refused 3985, I stretched 5186 out my hand 3027 and no 369 one 369 paid 7181 attention 7181;
25 And you neglected 6544 all 3605 my counsel 6098 And did not want 14 my reproof 8433;
26 I will also 1571 laugh 7832 at your calamity 343; I will mock 3932 when your dread 6343 comes 935,
27 When your dread 6343 comes 935 like a storm 7584 And your calamity 343 comes 857 like a whirlwind 5492, When distress 6869 and anguish 6695 come 935 upon you.
28 "Then 227 they will call 7121 on me, but I will not answer 6030; They will seek 7836 me diligently 7836 but they will not find 4672 me,
29 Because they hated 8130 knowledge 1847 And did not choose 977 the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068.
30 "They would 14 not accept 14 my counsel 6098, They spurned 5006 all 3605 my reproof 8433.
31 "So they shall eat 398 of the fruit 6529 of their own way 1870 And be satiated 7646 with their own devices 4156.
32 "For the waywardness 4878 of the naive 6612 will kill 2026 them, And the complacency 7962 of fools 3684 will destroy 6 them.
33 "But he who listens 8085 to me shall live 7931 securely 983 And will be at ease 7599 from the dread 6343 of evil 7463."

Chapter 2


1

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

My son 1121, if 518 you will receive 3947 my words 561 And treasure 6845 my commandments 4687 within 854 you,
2 Make 7181 your ear 241 attentive 7181 to wisdom 2451, Incline 5186 your heart 3820 to understanding 8394;
3 For if 518 you cry 7121 for discernment 998, Lift 5414 your voice 6963 for understanding 8394;
4 If 518 you seek 1245 her as silver 3701 And search 2664 for her as for hidden 4301 treasures 4301;
5 Then 227 you will discern 995 the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 And discover 4672 the knowledge 1847 of God 430.
6 For the LORD 3068 gives 5414 wisdom 2451; From His mouth 6310 {come} knowledge 1847 and understanding 8394.
7 He stores 6845 up sound 8454 wisdom 8454 for the upright 3477; {He is} a shield 4043 to those who walk 1980 in integrity 8537,
8 Guarding 5341 the paths 734 of justice 4941, And He preserves 8104 the way 1870 of His godly 2623 ones 2623.
9 Then 227 you will discern 995 righteousness 6664 and justice 4941 And equity 4339 {and} every 3605 good 2896 course 4570.
10 For wisdom 2451 will enter 935 your heart 3820 And knowledge 1847 will be pleasant 5276 to your soul 5315;
11 Discretion 4209 will guard 8104 you, Understanding 8394 will watch 5341 over you,
12 To deliver 5337 you from the way 1870 of evil 7451, From the man 376 who speaks 1696 perverse 8419 things 8419;
13 From those who leave 5800 the paths 734 of uprightness 3476 To walk 1980 in the ways 1870 of darkness 2822;
14 Who 8056 delight 8056 in doing 6213 evil 7451 And rejoice 1523 in the perversity 8419 of evil 7451;
15 Whose 834 paths 734 are crooked 6141, And who are devious 3868 in their ways 4570;
16 To deliver 5337 you from the strange 2114 woman 802, From the adulteress 5237 who flatters 2505 with her words 561;
17 That leaves 5800 the companion 441 of her youth 5271 And forgets 7911 the covenant 1285 of her God 430;
18 For her house 1004 sinks 7743 down 7743 to death 4194 And her tracks 4570 {lead} to the dead 7496;
19 None who go 935 to her return 7725 again, Nor 3808 do they reach 5381 the paths 734 of life 2425.
20 So 4616 you will walk 1980 in the way 1870 of good 2896 men 2896 And keep 8104 to the paths 734 of the righteous 6662.
21 For the upright 3477 will live 7931 in the land 776 And the blameless 8549 will remain 3498 in it;
22 But the wicked 7563 will be cut 3772 off 3772 from the land 776 And the treacherous 898 will be uprooted 5255 from it.

Chapter 3


1

The Rewards of Wisdom

My son 1121, do not forget 7911 my teaching 8451, But let your heart 3820 keep 5341 my commandments 4687;
2 For length 753 of days 3117 and years 8141 of life 2425 And peace 7965 they will add 3254 to you.
3 Do not let kindness 2617 and truth 571 leave 5800 you; Bind 7194 them around 5921 your neck 1621, Write 3789 them on the tablet 3871 of your heart 3820.
4 So you will find 4672 favor 2580 and good 2896 repute 7922 In the sight 5869 of God 430 and man 120.
5 Trust 982 in the LORD 3068 with all 3605 your heart 3820 And do not lean 8172 on your own understanding 998.
6 In all 3605 your ways 1870 acknowledge 3045 Him, And He will make 3474 your paths 734 straight 3474.
7 Do not be wise 2450 in your own eyes 5869; Fear 3372 the LORD 3068 and turn 5493 away 5493 from evil 7451.
8 It will be healing 7500 to your body 8270 And refreshment 8250 to your bones 6106.
9 Honor 3513 the LORD 3068 from your wealth 1952 And from the first 7225 of all 3605 your produce 8393;
10 So your barns 618 will be filled 4390 with plenty 7647 And your vats 3342 will overflow 6555 with new 8492 wine 8492.
11 My son 1121, do not reject 3988 the discipline 4148 of the LORD 3068 Or loathe 6973 His reproof 8433,
12 For whom 834 the LORD 3068 loves 157 He reproves 3198, Even as a father 1 {corrects} the son 1121 in whom he delights 7521.
13 ¶ How blessed 835 is the man 120 who finds 4672 wisdom 2451 And the man 120 who gains 6329 understanding 8394.
14 For her profit 5504 is better 2896 than 4480 the profit 5504 of silver 3701 And her gain 8393 better than 4480 fine gold 2742.
15 She is more 4480 precious 3368 than 4480 jewels 6443; And nothing you desire 2656 compares 7737 with her.
16 Long 753 life 3117 is in her right 3225 hand 3225; In her left 8040 hand 8040 are riches 6239 and honor 3519.
17 Her ways 1870 are pleasant 5278 ways 1870 And all 3605 her paths 5410 are peace 7965.
18 She is a tree 6086 of life 2425 to those who take 2388 hold 2388 of her, And happy 833 are all who hold 8551 her fast 8551.
19 The LORD 3068 by wisdom 2451 founded 3245 the earth 776, By understanding 8394 He established 3559 the heavens 8064.
20 By His knowledge 1847 the deeps 8415 were broken 1234 up And the skies 7834 drip 7491 with dew 2919.
21 My son 1121, let them not vanish 3868 from your sight 5869; Keep 5341 sound 8454 wisdom 8454 and discretion 4209,
22 So they will be life 2425 to your soul 5315 And adornment 2580 to your neck 1621.
23 Then 227 you will walk 1980 in your way 1870 securely 983 And your foot 7272 will not stumble 5062.
24 When 518 you lie 7901 down 7901, you will not be afraid 6342; When you lie 7901 down 7901, your sleep 8142 will be sweet 6149.
25 Do not be afraid 3372 of sudden 6597 fear 6343 Nor 408 of the onslaught 7724 of the wicked 7563 when 3588 it comes 935;
26 For the LORD 3068 will be your confidence 3689 And will keep 8104 your foot 7272 from being caught 3921.
27 ¶ Do not withhold 4513 good 2896 from those to whom it is due 1167, When it is in your power 3027 to do 6213 {it.}
28 Do not say 559 to your neighbor 7453, "Go 1980, and come 7725 back 7725, And tomorrow 4279 I will give 5414 {it,}" When you have 3426 it with you.
29 Do not devise 2790 harm 7463 against 5921 your neighbor 7453, While he lives 3427 securely 983 beside 854 you.
30 Do not contend 7378 with a man 120 without 2600 cause 2600, If 518 he has done 1580 you no 3808 harm 7463.
31 Do not envy 7065 a man 376 of violence 2555 And do not choose 977 any 3605 of his ways 1870.
32 For the devious 3868 are an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068; But He is intimate 5475 with the upright 3477.
33 The curse 3994 of the LORD 3068 is on the house 1004 of the wicked 7563, But He blesses 1288 the dwelling 5116 of the righteous 6662.
34 Though 518 He scoffs 3917 at the scoffers 3917, Yet He gives 5414 grace 2580 to the afflicted 6035.
35 The wise 2450 will inherit 5157 honor 3519, But fools 3684 display 7311 dishonor 7036.

Chapter 4


1

A Father's Instruction

Hear 8085, {O} sons 1121, the instruction 4148 of a father 1, And give 7181 attention 7181 that you may gain 3045 understanding 998,
2 For I give 5414 you sound 2896 teaching 3948; Do not abandon 5800 my instruction 8451.
3 When 3588 I was a son 1121 to my father 1, Tender 7390 and the only 3173 son 3173 in the sight 6440 of my mother 517,
4 Then he taught 3384 me and said 559 to me, "Let your heart 3820 hold 8551 fast 8551 my words 1697; Keep 8104 my commandments 4687 and live 2421;
5 Acquire 7069 wisdom 2451! Acquire 7069 understanding 998! Do not forget 7911 nor 408 turn 5186 away 5186 from the words 561 of my mouth 6310.
6 "Do not forsake 5800 her, and she will guard 8104 you; Love 157 her, and she will watch 5341 over you.
7 "The beginning 7225 of wisdom 2451 {is:} Acquire 7069 wisdom 2451; And with all 3605 your acquiring 7075, get 7069 understanding 998.
8 "Prize 5549 her, and she will exalt 7311 you; She will honor 3513 you if 3588 you embrace 2263 her.
9 "She will place 5414 on your head 7218 a garland 3880 of grace 2580; She will present 4042 you with a crown 5850 of beauty 8597."
10 ¶ Hear 8085, my son 1121, and accept 3947 my sayings 561 And the years 8141 of your life 2425 will be many 7235.
11 I have directed 3384 you in the way 1870 of wisdom 2451; I have led 1869 you in upright 3476 paths 4570.
12 When you walk 1980, your steps 6806 will not be impeded 6887; And if 518 you run 7323, you will not stumble 3782.
13 Take 2388 hold 2388 of instruction 4148; do not let 7503 go 7503. Guard 5341 her, for she is your life 2425.
14 Do not enter 935 the path 734 of the wicked 7563 And do not proceed 833 in the way 1870 of evil 7451 men 7451.
15 Avoid 6544 it, do not pass 5674 by it; Turn 7847 away 7847 from it and pass 5674 on.
16 For they cannot 3808 sleep 3462 unless they do 7489 evil 7489; And they are robbed 1497 of sleep 8142 unless they make {someone} stumble 3782.
17 For they eat 3898 the bread 3899 of wickedness 7562 And drink 8354 the wine 3196 of violence 2555.
18 But the path 734 of the righteous 6662 is like the light 216 of dawn 5051, That shines 215 brighter 1980 and brighter 1980 until 5704 the full 3559 day 3117.
19 The way 1870 of the wicked 7563 is like darkness 653; They do not know 3045 over what 4100 they stumble 3782.
20 ¶ My son 1121, give 7181 attention 7181 to my words 561; Incline 5186 your ear 241 to my sayings 561.
21 Do not let them depart 3868 from your sight 5869; Keep 8104 them in the midst 8432 of your heart 3824.
22 For they are life 2425 to those who find 4672 them And health 4832 to all 3605 their body 1320.
23 Watch 5341 over your heart 3820 with all 3605 diligence 4929, For from it {flow} the springs 8444 of life 2425.
24 Put 5493 away 5493 from you a deceitful 6143 mouth 6310 And put 7368 devious 3891 speech 8193 far 7368 from you.
25 Let your eyes 5869 look 5027 directly 5227 ahead 5227 And let your gaze 6079 be fixed 3474 straight 3474 in front 5048 of you.
26 Watch 6424 the path 4570 of your feet 7272 And all 3605 your ways 1870 will be established 3559.
27 Do not turn 5186 to the right 3225 nor 408 to the left 8040; Turn 5493 your foot 7272 from evil 7451.

Chapter 5


1

Pitfalls of Immorality

My son 1121, give 7181 attention 7181 to my wisdom 2451, Incline 5186 your ear 241 to my understanding 8394;
2 That you may observe 8104 discretion 4209 And your lips 8193 may reserve 5341 knowledge 1847.
3 For the lips 8193 of an adulteress 2114 drip 5197 honey 5317 And smoother 2509 than 4480 oil 8081 is her speech 2441;
4 But in the end 319 she is bitter 4751 as wormwood 3939, Sharp 2299 as a two-edged 6310 sword 2719.
5 Her feet 7272 go 3381 down 3381 to death 4194, Her steps 6806 take 8551 hold 8551 of Sheol 7585.
6 She does not ponder 6424 the path 734 of life 2425; Her ways 4570 are unstable 5128, she does not know 3045 {it.}
7 ¶ Now 6258 then, {my} sons 1121, listen 8085 to me And do not depart 5493 from the words 561 of my mouth 6310.
8 Keep 7368 your way 1870 far 7368 from her And do not go 7126 near 7126 the door 6607 of her house 1004,
9 Or 6435 you will give 5414 your vigor 1935 to others 312 And your years 8141 to the cruel 394 one 394;
10 And strangers 2114 will be filled 7646 with your strength 3581 And your hard-earned 6089 goods 6089 {will go} to the house 1004 of an alien 5237;
11 And you groan 5098 at your final 319 end 319, When your flesh 1320 and your body 7607 are consumed 3615;
12 And you say 559, "How 349 I have hated 8130 instruction 4148! And my heart 3820 spurned 5006 reproof 8433!
13 "I have not listened 8085 to the voice 6963 of my teachers 4175, Nor 3808 inclined 5186 my ear 241 to my instructors 3925!
14 "I was almost 4592 in utter 3605 ruin 7451 In the midst 8432 of the assembly 6951 and congregation 5712."
15 ¶ Drink 8354 water 4325 from your own cistern 953 And fresh 5140 water 5140 from your own well 875.
16 Should your springs 4599 be dispersed 6327 abroad 2351, Streams 6388 of water 4325 in the streets 7339?
17 Let them be yours alone 905 And not for strangers 2114 with you.
18 Let your fountain 4726 be blessed 1288, And rejoice 8055 in the wife 802 of your youth 5271.
19 {As} a loving 158 hind 355 and a graceful 2580 doe 3280, Let her breasts 1717 satisfy 7301 you at all 3605 times 6256; Be exhilarated 7686 always 8548 with her love 160.
20 For why 4100 should you, my son 1121, be exhilarated 7686 with an adulteress 2114 And embrace 2263 the bosom 2436 of a foreigner 5237?
21 For the ways 1870 of a man 376 are before 5227 the eyes 5869 of the LORD 3068, And He watches 6424 all 3605 his paths 4570.
22 His own iniquities 5771 will capture 3920 the wicked 7563, And he will be held 8551 with the cords 2256 of his sin 2403.
23 He will die 4191 for lack 369 of instruction 4148, And in the greatness 7230 of his folly 200 he will go 7686 astray 7686.

Chapter 6


1

Parental Counsel

My son 1121, if 518 you have become 6148 surety 6148 for your neighbor 7453, Have given 8628 a pledge 3709 for a stranger 2114,
2 {If} you have been snared 3369 with the words 561 of your mouth 6310, Have been caught 3920 with the words 561 of your mouth 6310,
3 Do 6213 this 384 then 645, my son 1121, and deliver 5337 yourself 5337; Since 3588 you have come 935 into the hand 3709 of your neighbor 7453, Go 1980, humble 7511 yourself, and importune 7292 your neighbor 7453.
4 Give 5414 no sleep 8142 to your eyes 5869, Nor 408 slumber 8572 to your eyelids 6079;
5 Deliver 5337 yourself 5337 like a gazelle 6643 from {the hunter's} hand 3027 And like a bird 6833 from the hand 3027 of the fowler 3353.
6 ¶ Go 1980 to the ant 5244, O sluggard 6102, Observe 7200 her ways 1870 and be wise 2449,
7 Which 834, having 369 no 369 chief 7101, Officer 7860 or ruler 4910,
8 Prepares 3559 her food 3899 in the summer 7019 {And} gathers 103 her provision 3978 in the harvest 7105.
9 How 4970 long 5704 will you lie 7901 down 7901, O sluggard 6102? When 4970 will you arise 6965 from your sleep 8142?
10 "A little 4592 sleep 8142, a little 4592 slumber 8572, A little 4592 folding 2264 of the hands 3027 to rest 7901"--
11 Your poverty 7389 will come 935 in like a vagabond 1980 And your need 4270 like an armed 4043 man 376.
12 ¶ A worthless 1100 person 120, a wicked 205 man 376, Is the one who walks 1980 with a perverse 6143 mouth 6310,
13 Who winks 7169 with his eyes 5869, who signals 4448 with his feet 7272, Who points 3384 with his fingers 676;
14 Who {with} perversity 8419 in his heart 3820 continually devises 2790 evil 7451, Who spreads 7971 strife 4066.
15 Therefore his calamity 343 will come 935 suddenly 6597; Instantly 6621 he will be broken 7665 and there 369 will be no 369 healing 4832.
16 ¶ There 1992 are six 8337 things 8337 which the LORD 3068 hates 8130, Yes, seven 7651 which are an abomination 8441 to Him:
17 Haughty 7311 eyes 5869, a lying 8267 tongue 3956, And hands 3027 that shed 8210 innocent 5355 blood 1818,
18 A heart 3820 that devises 2790 wicked 205 plans 4284, Feet 7272 that run 7323 rapidly 4116 to evil 7463,
19 A false 8267 witness 5707 {who} utters 6315 lies 3577, And one who spreads 7971 strife 4090 among 996 brothers 251.
20 ¶ My son 1121, observe 5341 the commandment 4687 of your father 1 And do not forsake 5203 the teaching 8451 of your mother 517;
21 Bind 7194 them continually 8548 on your heart 3820; Tie 6029 them around 5921 your neck 1621.
22 When you walk 1980 about, they will guide 5148 you; When you sleep 7901, they will watch 8104 over 5921 you; And when you awake 7019, they will talk 7878 to you.
23 For the commandment 4687 is a lamp 5216 and the teaching 8451 is light 216; And reproofs 8433 for discipline 4148 are the way 1870 of life 2425
24 To keep 8104 you from the evil 7451 woman 802, From the smooth 2513 tongue 3956 of the adulteress 5237.
25 Do not desire 2530 her beauty 3308 in your heart 3824, Nor 408 let her capture 3947 you with her eyelids 6079.
26 For on account 1157 of a harlot 2181 {one is reduced} to a loaf 3603 of bread 3899, And an adulteress hunts 6679 for the precious 3368 life 5315.
27 Can a man 376 take 2846 fire 784 in his bosom 2436 And his clothes 899 not be burned 8313?
28 Or 518 can a man 376 walk 1980 on hot coals 1513 And his feet 7272 not be scorched 3554?
29 So 3651 is the one who goes 935 in to his neighbor's 7453 wife 802; Whoever 3605 touches 5060 her will not go 5352 unpunished 5352.
30 Men do not despise 936 a thief 1590 if 3588 he steals 1589 To satisfy 4390 himself 5315 when 3588 he is hungry 7456;
31 But when he is found 4672, he must repay 7999 sevenfold 7659; He must give 5414 all 3605 the substance 1952 of his house 1004.
32 The one who commits 5003 adultery 5003 with a woman 802 is lacking 2638 sense 3820; He who would destroy 7843 himself 5315 does 6213 it.
33 Wounds 5061 and disgrace 7036 he will find 4672, And his reproach 2781 will not be blotted 4229 out.
34 For jealousy 7068 enrages 2534 a man 1397, And he will not spare 2550 in the day 3117 of vengeance 5359.
35 He will not accept any 3605 ransom 3724, Nor 3808 will he be satisfied 14 though 3588 you give 7235 many 7235 gifts 7810.

Chapter 7


1

The Wiles of the Harlot

My son 1121, keep 8104 my words 561 And treasure 6845 my commandments 4687 within 854 you.
2 Keep 8104 my commandments 4687 and live 2421, And my teaching 8451 as the apple 380 of your eye 5869.
3 Bind 7194 them on your fingers 676; Write 3789 them on the tablet 3871 of your heart 3820.
4 Say 559 to wisdom 2451, "You are my sister 269," And call 7121 understanding 998 {your} intimate 4129 friend 4129;
5 That they may keep 8104 you from an adulteress, From the foreigner 5237 who flatters 2505 with her words 561.
6 ¶ For at the window 2474 of my house 1004 I looked 8259 out through 1157 my lattice 822,
7 And I saw 7200 among the naive 6612, {And} discerned 995 among the youths 1121 A young 5288 man 5288 lacking 2638 sense 3820,
8 Passing 5674 through the street 7784 near 681 her corner 6438; And he takes 6805 the way 1870 to her house 1004,
9 In the twilight 5399, in the evening, In the middle 380 of the night 3915 and {in} the darkness 653.
10 And behold 2009, a woman 802 {comes} to meet 7122 him, Dressed 7897 as a harlot 2181 and cunning 5341 of heart 3820.
11 She is boisterous 1993 and rebellious 5637, Her feet 7272 do not remain 7931 at home 1004;
12 {She is} now 6471 in the streets 2351, now 6471 in the squares 7339, And lurks 693 by every 3605 corner 6438.
13 So she seizes 2388 him and kisses 5401 him And with a brazen 5810 face 6440 she says 559 to him:
14 "I was due 5921 to offer 2077 peace 8002 offerings 8002; Today 3117 I have paid 7999 my vows 5088.
15 "Therefore I have come 3318 out to meet 7122 you, To seek 7836 your presence 6440 earnestly 7836, and I have found 4672 you.
16 "I have spread 7234 my couch 6210 with coverings 4765, With colored 2405 linens 330 of Egypt 4714.
17 "I have sprinkled 5130 my bed 4904 With myrrh 4753, aloes 174 and cinnamon 7076.
18 "Come 1980, let us drink 7301 our fill 7301 of love 1730 until 5704 morning 1242; Let us delight 5965 ourselves with caresses 159.
19 "For my husband 376 is not at home 1004, He has gone 1980 on a long journey 1870;
20 He has taken 3947 a bag 6872 of money 3701 with him, At the full 3677 moon 3677 he will come 935 home 1004."
21 With her many 7230 persuasions 3948 she entices 5186 him; With her flattering 2507 lips 8193 she seduces 5080 him.
22 Suddenly 6597 he follows her As an ox 7794 goes 935 to the slaughter 2874, Or as {one in} fetters 5914 to the discipline 4148 of a fool 191,
23 Until 5704 an arrow 2671 pierces 6398 through 6398 his liver 3516; As a bird 6833 hastens 4116 to the snare 6341, So he does not know 3045 that it {will cost him} his life 5315.
24 ¶ Now 6258 therefore, {my} sons 1121, listen 8085 to me, And pay 7181 attention 7181 to the words 561 of my mouth 6310.
25 Do not let your heart 3820 turn 7847 aside 7847 to her ways 1870, Do not stray 8582 into her paths 5410.
26 For many 7227 are the victims 2491 she has cast 5307 down 5307, And numerous 6099 are all 3605 her slain 2026.
27 Her house 1004 is the way 1870 to Sheol 7585, Descending 3381 to the chambers 2315 of death 4194.

Chapter 8


1

The Commendation of Wisdom

Does not wisdom 2451 call 7121, And understanding 8394 lift 5414 up her voice 6963?
2 On top 7218 of the heights 4791 beside 5921 the way 1870, Where 1004 the paths 5410 meet 1007, she takes 5324 her stand 5324;
3 Beside 3027 the gates 8179, at the opening 6310 to the city 7176, At the entrance 3996 of the doors 6607, she cries 7442 out:
4 "To you, O men 376, I call 7121, And my voice 6963 is to the sons 1121 of men 120.
5 "O naive 6612 ones 6612, understand 995 prudence 6195; And, O fools 3684, understand 995 wisdom 3820.
6 "Listen 8085, for I will speak 1696 noble 5057 things 5057; And the opening 4669 of my lips 8193 {will reveal} right 4339 things 4339.
7 "For my mouth 2441 will utter 1897 truth 571; And wickedness 7562 is an abomination 8441 to my lips 8193.
8 "All 3605 the utterances 561 of my mouth 6310 are in righteousness 6664; There 369 is nothing 369 crooked 6617 or perverted 6141 in them.
9 "They are all 3605 straightforward 5228 to him who understands 995, And right 3477 to those who find 4672 knowledge 1847.
10 "Take 3947 my instruction 4148 and not silver 3701, And knowledge 1847 rather 4480 than 4480 choicest 977 gold 2742.
11 "For wisdom 2451 is better 2896 than 4480 jewels 6443; And all 3605 desirable 2656 things 2656 cannot 3808 compare 7737 with her.
12 ¶ "I, wisdom 2451, dwell 7931 with prudence 6195, And I find 4672 knowledge 1847 {and} discretion 4209.
13 "The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 is to hate 8130 evil 7451; Pride 1344 and arrogance 1344 and the evil 7451 way 1870 And the perverted 8419 mouth 6310, I hate 8130.
14 "Counsel 6098 is mine and sound 8454 wisdom 8454; I am understanding 998, power 1369 is mine.
15 "By me kings 4428 reign 4427, And rulers 7336 decree 2710 justice 6664.
16 "By me princes 8269 rule 8323, and nobles 5081, All 3605 who judge 8199 rightly 6664.
17 "I love 157 those who love 157 me; And those who diligently 7836 seek 7836 me will find 4672 me.
18 "Riches 6239 and honor 3519 are with me, Enduring 6276 wealth 1952 and righteousness 6666.
19 "My fruit 6529 is better 2896 than 4480 gold 2742, even pure 6337 gold 6337, And my yield 8393 {better} than 4480 choicest 977 silver 3701.
20 "I walk 1980 in the way 734 of righteousness 6666, In the midst 8432 of the paths 5410 of justice 4941,
21 To endow 5157 those who love 157 me with wealth 3426, That I may fill 4390 their treasuries 214.
22 ¶ "The LORD 3068 possessed 7069 me at the beginning 7225 of His way 1870, Before 6924 His works 4659 of old 6924.
23 "From everlasting 5769 I was established 5258, From the beginning 7218, from the earliest 6924 times 6924 of the earth 776.
24 "When there 369 were no 369 depths 8415 I was brought 2342 forth 2342, When there 369 were no 369 springs 4599 abounding 3513 with water 4325.
25 "Before 2962 the mountains 2022 were settled 2883, Before 6440 the hills 1389 I was brought 2342 forth 2342;
26 While 5704 He had not yet made 6213 the earth 776 and the fields 2351, Nor 3808 the first 7218 dust 6083 of the world 8398.
27 "When He established 3559 the heavens 8064, I was there 8033, When He inscribed 2710 a circle 2329 on the face 6440 of the deep 8415,
28 When He made 553 firm 553 the skies 7834 above, When the springs 5871 of the deep 8415 became 5810 fixed 5810,
29 When He set 7760 for the sea 3220 its boundary 2706 So that the water 4325 would not transgress 5674 His command 6310, When He marked 2710 out the foundations 4144 of the earth 776;
30 Then I was beside 681 Him, {as} a master 525 workman 525; And I was daily 3117 {His} delight 8191, Rejoicing 7832 always before 6440 Him,
31 Rejoicing 7832 in the world 8398, His earth 776, And {having} my delight 8191 in the sons 1121 of men 120.
32 ¶ "Now 6258 therefore, {O} sons 1121, listen 8085 to me, For blessed 835 are they who keep 8104 my ways 1870.
33 "Heed 8085 instruction 4148 and be wise 2449, And do not neglect 6544 {it.}
34 "Blessed 835 is the man 120 who listens 8085 to me, Watching 8245 daily 3117 at my gates 1817, Waiting 8104 at my doorposts 4201.
35 "For he who finds 4672 me finds 4672 life 2425 And obtains 6329 favor 7522 from the LORD 3068.
36 "But he who sins 2398 against me injures 2554 himself 5315; All 3605 those who hate 8130 me love 157 death 4194."

Chapter 9


1

Wisdom's Invitation

Wisdom 2451 has built 1129 her house 1004, She has hewn 2672 out her seven 7651 pillars 5982;
2 She has prepared 2873 her food 2874, she has mixed 4537 her wine 3196; She has also 637 set 6186 her table 7979;
3 She has sent 7971 out her maidens 5291, she calls 7121 From the tops 1610 of the heights 4791 of the city 7176:
4 "Whoever 4310 is naive 6612, let him turn 5493 in here 2008!" To him who 2638 lacks 2638 understanding 3820 she says 559,
5 "Come 1980, eat 3898 of my food 3899 And drink 8354 of the wine 3196 I have mixed 4537.
6 "Forsake 5800 {your} folly 6612 and live 2421, And proceed 833 in the way 1870 of understanding 998."
7 ¶ He who corrects 3256 a scoffer 3917 gets 3947 dishonor 7036 for himself, And he who reproves 3198 a wicked 7563 man 7563 {gets} insults 4140 for himself.
8 Do not reprove 3198 a scoffer 3917, or 6435 he will hate 8130 you, Reprove 3198 a wise 2450 man 2450 and he will love 157 you.
9 Give 5414 {instruction} to a wise 2450 man 2450 and he will be still 5750 wiser 2449, Teach 3045 a righteous 6662 man 6662 and he will increase 3254 {his} learning 3948.
10 The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 is the beginning 8462 of wisdom 2451, And the knowledge 1847 of the Holy 6918 One 6918 is understanding 998.
11 For by me your days 3117 will be multiplied 7235, And years 8141 of life 2425 will be added 3254 to you.
12 If 518 you are wise 2449, you are wise 2449 for yourself, And if you scoff 3917, you alone 905 will bear 5375 it.
13 ¶ The woman 802 of folly 3687 is boisterous 1993, {She is} naive 6615 and knows 3045 nothing.
14 She sits 3427 at the doorway 6607 of her house 1004, On a seat 3678 by the high 4791 places 4791 of the city 7176,
15 Calling 7121 to those who pass 5674 by, Who are making 3474 their paths 734 straight 3474:
16 "Whoever 4310 is naive 6612, let him turn 5493 in here 2008," And to him who 2638 lacks 2638 understanding 3820 she says 559,
17 "Stolen 1589 water 4325 is sweet 4985; And bread 3899 {eaten} in secret 5643 is pleasant 5276."
18 But he does not know 3045 that the dead 7496 are there 8033, {That} her guests 7121 are in the depths 6011 of Sheol 7585.

Chapter 10


1

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

The proverbs 4912 of Solomon 8010. A wise 2450 son 1121 makes 8055 a father 1 glad 8055, But a foolish 3684 son 1121 is a grief 8424 to his mother 517.
2 Ill-gotten 7562 gains 214 do not profit 3276, But righteousness 6666 delivers 5337 from death 4194.
3 The LORD 3068 will not allow the righteous 6662 to hunger 7456, But He will reject 1920 the craving 1942 of the wicked 7563.
4 Poor 7326 is he who works 6213 with a negligent 7423 hand 3709, But the hand 3027 of the diligent 2742 makes 6238 rich 6238.
5 He who gathers 103 in summer 7019 is a son 1121 who acts 7919 wisely 7919, {But} he who sleeps 7290 in harvest 7105 is a son 1121 who acts 954 shamefully 954.
6 Blessings 1293 are on the head 7218 of the righteous 6662, But the mouth 6310 of the wicked 7563 conceals 3680 violence 2555.
7 The memory 2143 of the righteous 6662 is blessed 1293, But the name 8034 of the wicked 7563 will rot 7537.
8 The wise 2450 of heart 3820 will receive 3947 commands 4687, But a babbling 8193 fool 191 will be ruined 3832.
9 He who walks 1980 in integrity 8537 walks 1980 securely 983, But he who perverts 6140 his ways 1870 will be found 3045 out.
10 He who winks 7169 the eye 5869 causes 5414 trouble 6094, And a babbling 8193 fool 191 will be ruined 3832.
11 The mouth 6310 of the righteous 6662 is a fountain 4726 of life 2425, But the mouth 6310 of the wicked 7563 conceals 3680 violence 2555.
12 Hatred 8135 stirs 5782 up strife 4090, But love 160 covers 3680 all 3605 transgressions 6588.
13 On the lips 8193 of the discerning 995, wisdom 2451 is found 4672, But a rod 7626 is for the back 1460 of him who 2638 lacks 2638 understanding 3820.
14 Wise 2450 men 2450 store 6845 up knowledge 1847, But with the mouth 6310 of the foolish 191, ruin 4288 is at hand 7138.
15 The rich 6223 man's 6223 wealth 1952 is his fortress, The ruin 4288 of the poor 1800 is their poverty 7389.
16 The wages 6468 of the righteous 6662 is life 2425, The income 8393 of the wicked 7563, punishment 2403.
17 He is {on} the path 734 of life 2425 who heeds 8104 instruction 4148, But he who ignores 5800 reproof 8433 goes 8582 astray 8582.
18 He who conceals 3680 hatred 8135 {has} lying 8267 lips 8193, And he who spreads 3318 slander 1681 is a fool 3684.
19 When there are many 7230 words 1697, transgression 6588 is unavoidable, But he who restrains 2820 his lips 8193 is wise 7919.
20 The tongue 3956 of the righteous 6662 is {as} choice 977 silver 3701, The heart 3820 of the wicked 7563 is {worth} little 4592.
21 The lips 8193 of the righteous 6662 feed 7462 many 7227, But fools 191 die 4191 for lack 2638 of understanding 3820.
22 It is the blessing 1293 of the LORD 3068 that makes 6238 rich 6238, And He adds 3254 no 3808 sorrow 6089 to it.
23 Doing 6213 wickedness 2154 is like sport 7814 to a fool 3684, And {so is} wisdom 2451 to a man 376 of understanding 8394.
24 What 4034 the wicked 7563 fears 4034 will come 935 upon him, But the desire 8378 of the righteous 6662 will be granted 5414.
25 When the whirlwind 5492 passes 5674, the wicked 7563 is no 369 more 369, But the righteous 6662 {has} an everlasting 5769 foundation 3247.
26 Like vinegar 2558 to the teeth 8127 and smoke 6227 to the eyes 5869, So 3651 is the lazy 6102 one 6102 to those who send 7971 him.
27 The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 prolongs 3254 life 3117, But the years 8141 of the wicked 7563 will be shortened 7114.
28 The hope 8431 of the righteous 6662 is gladness 8057, But the expectation 8615 of the wicked 7563 perishes 6.
29 The way 1870 of the LORD 3068 is a stronghold 4581 to the upright 8537, But ruin 4288 to the workers 6466 of iniquity 205.
30 The righteous 6662 will never be shaken 4131, But the wicked 7563 will not dwell 7931 in the land 776.
31 The mouth 6310 of the righteous 6662 flows 5107 with wisdom 2451, But the perverted 8419 tongue 3956 will be cut 3772 out.
32 The lips 8193 of the righteous 6662 bring 3045 forth 3045 what 7522 is acceptable 7522, But the mouth 6310 of the wicked 7563 what 8419 is perverted 8419.

Chapter 11


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

A false 4820 balance 3976 is an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, But a just 8003 weight 68 is His delight 7522.
2 When pride 2087 comes 935, then comes 935 dishonor 7036, But with the humble 6794 is wisdom 2451.
3 The integrity 8538 of the upright 3477 will guide 5148 them, But the crookedness 5558 of the treacherous 898 will destroy 7703 them.
4 Riches 1952 do not profit 3276 in the day 3117 of wrath 5678, But righteousness 6666 delivers 5337 from death 4194.
5 The righteousness 6666 of the blameless 8549 will smooth 3474 his way 1870, But the wicked 7563 will fall 5307 by his own wickedness 7564.
6 The righteousness 6666 of the upright 3477 will deliver 5337 them, But the treacherous 898 will be caught 3920 by {their own} greed 1942.
7 When a wicked 7563 man 120 dies 4194, {his} expectation 8615 will perish 6, And the hope 8431 of strong 202 men 202 perishes 6.
8 The righteous 6662 is delivered 2502 from trouble 6869, But the wicked 7563 takes 935 his place 8478.
9 With {his} mouth 6310 the godless 2611 man 2611 destroys 7843 his neighbor 7453, But through knowledge 1847 the righteous 6662 will be delivered 2502.
10 When it goes well 2898 with the righteous 6662, the city 7151 rejoices 5970, And when the wicked 7563 perish 6, there is joyful 7440 shouting 7440.
11 By the blessing 1293 of the upright 3477 a city 7176 is exalted 7311, But by the mouth 6310 of the wicked 7563 it is torn 2040 down 2040.
12 He who despises 936 his neighbor 7453 lacks 2638 sense 3820, But a man 376 of understanding 8394 keeps 2790 silent 2790.
13 He who goes 1980 about as a talebearer 7400 reveals 1540 secrets 5475, But he who is trustworthy conceals 3680 a matter 1697.
14 Where there 369 is no 369 guidance 8458 the people 5971 fall 5307, But in abundance 7230 of counselors 3289 there is victory 8668.
15 He who is guarantor 6148 for a stranger 2114 will surely 7451 suffer 7489 for it, But he who hates 8130 being a guarantor 8628 is secure 982.
16 A gracious 2580 woman 802 attains 8551 honor 3519, And ruthless 6184 men 6184 attain 8551 riches 6239.
17 The merciful 2617 man 376 does 1580 himself 5315 good 2617, But the cruel 394 man 394 does 5916 himself 7607 harm 5916.
18 The wicked 7563 earns 6213 deceptive 8267 wages 7938, But he who sows 2232 righteousness 6666 {gets} a true 571 reward 7938.
19 He who 3653 is steadfast 3653 in righteousness 6666 {will attain} to life 2425, And he who pursues 7291 evil 7463 {will bring about} his own death 4194.
20 The perverse 6141 in heart 3820 are an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, But the blameless 8549 in {their} walk 1870 are His delight 7522.
21 Assuredly 3027, the evil 7451 man 7451 will not go 5352 unpunished 5352, But the descendants 2233 of the righteous 6662 will be delivered 4422.
22 {As} a ring 5141 of gold 2091 in a swine's 2386 snout 639 {So is} a beautiful 3303 woman 802 who lacks 5493 discretion 2940.
23 The desire 8378 of the righteous 6662 is only 389 good 2896, {But} the expectation 8615 of the wicked 7563 is wrath 5678.
24 There 3426 is one who scatters 6340, and {yet} increases 3254 all 5750 the more 5750, And there is one who withholds 2820 what 3476 is justly 3476 due 3476, {and yet it results} only 389 in want 4270.
25 The generous 1293 man 5315 will be prosperous 1878, And he who waters 7301 will himself 1931 be watered 3372.
26 He who withholds 4513 grain 1250, the people 3816 will curse 6895 him, But blessing 1293 will be on the head 7218 of him who sells 7666 {it.}
27 He who diligently 7836 seeks 7836 good 2896 seeks 1245 favor 7522, But he who seeks 1875 evil 7463, evil will come 935 to him.
28 He who trusts 982 in his riches 6239 will fall 5307, But the righteous 6662 will flourish 6524 like the {green} leaf 5929.
29 He who troubles 5916 his own house 1004 will inherit 5157 wind 7307, And the foolish 191 will be servant 5650 to the wisehearted 2450.
30 The fruit 6529 of the righteous 6662 is a tree 6086 of life 2425, And he who is wise 2450 wins 3947 souls 5315.
31 If 2005 the righteous 6662 will be rewarded 7999 in the earth 776, How 637 much more 637 the wicked 7563 and the sinner 2398!

Chapter 12


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

Whoever loves 157 discipline 4148 loves 157 knowledge 1847, But he who hates 8130 reproof 8433 is stupid 1198.
2 A good 2896 man 2896 will obtain 6329 favor 7522 from the LORD 3068, But He will condemn 7561 a man 376 who devises 4209 evil 4209.
3 A man 120 will not be established 3559 by wickedness 7562, But the root 8328 of the righteous 6662 will not be moved 4131.
4 An excellent 2428 wife 802 is the crown 5850 of her husband 1167, But she who shames 954 {him} is like rottenness 7538 in his bones 6106.
5 The thoughts 4284 of the righteous 6662 are just 4941, {But} the counsels 8458 of the wicked 7563 are deceitful 4820.
6 The words 1697 of the wicked 7563 lie 693 in wait 693 for blood 1818, But the mouth 6310 of the upright 3477 will deliver 5337 them.
7 The wicked 7563 are overthrown 2015 and are no 369 more, But the house 1004 of the righteous 6662 will stand 5975.
8 A man 376 will be praised 1984 according 6310 to his insight 7922, But one of perverse 5753 mind 3820 will be despised 937.
9 Better 2896 is he who is lightly 7034 esteemed 7034 and has a servant 5650 Than 4480 he who honors 3513 himself and lacks 2638 bread 3899.
10 A righteous 6662 man 6662 has 3045 regard 3045 for the life 5315 of his animal 929, But {even} the compassion 7356 of the wicked 7563 is cruel 394.
11 He who tills 5647 his land 127 will have 7646 plenty 7646 of bread 3899, But he who pursues 7291 worthless 7386 {things} lacks 2638 sense 3820.
12 The wicked 7563 man desires 2530 the booty 4685 of evil 7451 men 7451, But the root 8328 of the righteous 6662 yields 5414 {fruit.}
13 An evil 7451 man 7451 is ensnared 4170 by the transgression 6588 of his lips 8193, But the righteous 6662 will escape 3318 from trouble 6869.
14 A man 376 will be satisfied 7646 with good 2896 by the fruit 6529 of his words 6310, And the deeds 1576 of a man's 120 hands 3027 will return 7725 to him.
15 The way 1870 of a fool 191 is right 3477 in his own eyes 5869, But a wise 2450 man 2450 is he who listens 8085 to counsel 6098.
16 A fool's 191 anger 3708 is known 3045 at once 3117, But a prudent 6175 man 6175 conceals 3680 dishonor 7036.
17 He who speaks 6315 truth 530 tells 5046 what 6664 is right 6664, But a false 8267 witness 5707, deceit 4820.
18 There 3426 is one who speaks 981 rashly 981 like the thrusts 4094 of a sword 2719, But the tongue 3956 of the wise 2450 brings 4832 healing 4832.
19 Truthful 571 lips 8193 will be established 3559 forever 5703, But a lying 8267 tongue 3956 is only 5704 for a moment 7280.
20 Deceit 4820 is in the heart 3820 of those who devise 2790 evil 7451, But counselors 3289 of peace 7965 have joy 8057.
21 No harm 205 befalls 579 the righteous 6662, But the wicked 7563 are filled 4390 with trouble 7451.
22 Lying 8267 lips 8193 are an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, But those who deal 6213 faithfully 530 are His delight 7522.
23 A prudent 6175 man 120 conceals 3680 knowledge 1847, But the heart 3820 of fools 3684 proclaims 7121 folly 200.
24 The hand 3027 of the diligent 2742 will rule 4910, But the slack 7423 {hand} will be put to forced 4522 labor 4522.
25 Anxiety 1674 in a man's 376 heart 3820 weighs 7812 it down 7812, But a good 2896 word 1697 makes 8055 it glad 8055.
26 The righteous 6662 is a guide 8446 to his neighbor 7453, But the way 1870 of the wicked 7563 leads 8582 them astray 8582.
27 A lazy 7423 man 7423 does not roast 2760 his prey 6718, But the precious 3368 possession 1952 of a man 120 {is} diligence 2742.
28 In the way 734 of righteousness 6666 is life 2425, And in {its} pathway there is no 408 death 4194.

Chapter 13


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

A wise 2450 son 1121 {accepts his} father's 1 discipline 4148, But a scoffer 3917 does not listen 8085 to rebuke 1606.
2 From the fruit 6529 of a man's 376 mouth 6310 he enjoys 398 good 2896, But the desire 5315 of the treacherous 898 is violence 2555.
3 The one who guards 5341 his mouth 6310 preserves 8104 his life 5315; The one who opens 6589 wide 6589 his lips 8193 comes to ruin 4288.
4 The soul 5315 of the sluggard 6102 craves 183 and {gets} nothing 369, But the soul 5315 of the diligent 2742 is made 1878 fat 1878.
5 A righteous 6662 man 6662 hates 8130 falsehood 8267, But a wicked 7563 man 7563 acts 887 disgustingly 887 and shamefully 2659.
6 Righteousness 6666 guards 5341 the one whose way 1870 is blameless 8537, But wickedness 7564 subverts 5557 the sinner 2403.
7 There 3426 is one who pretends 6238 to be rich 6238, but has 369 nothing; {Another} pretends 7326 to be poor 7326, but has great 7227 wealth 1952.
8 The ransom 3724 of a man's 376 life 5315 is his wealth 6239, But the poor 7326 hears 8085 no 3808 rebuke 1606.
9 The light 216 of the righteous 6662 rejoices 8055, But the lamp 5216 of the wicked 7563 goes 1846 out.
10 Through insolence 2087 comes 5414 nothing 7534 but strife 4683, But wisdom 2451 is with those who receive 3289 counsel 3289.
11 Wealth 1952 {obtained} by fraud 1892 dwindles 4591, But the one who gathers 6908 by labor 3027 increases 7235 {it.}
12 Hope 8431 deferred 4900 makes 2470 the heart 3820 sick 2470, But desire 8378 fulfilled 935 is a tree 6086 of life 2425.
13 The one who despises 936 the word 1697 will be in debt 2254 to it, But the one who fears 3372 the commandment 4687 will be rewarded 7999.
14 The teaching 8451 of the wise 2450 is a fountain 4726 of life 2425, To turn 5493 aside 5493 from the snares 4170 of death 4194.
15 Good 2896 understanding 7922 produces 5414 favor 2580, But the way 1870 of the treacherous 898 is hard 386.
16 Every 3605 prudent 6175 man 6175 acts 6213 with knowledge 1847, But a fool 3684 displays 6566 folly 200.
17 A wicked 7563 messenger 4397 falls 5307 into adversity 7451, But a faithful 529 envoy 6735 {brings} healing 4832.
18 Poverty 7389 and shame 7036 {will come} to him who neglects 6544 discipline 4148, But he who regards 8104 reproof 8433 will be honored 3513.
19 Desire 8378 realized 1961 is sweet 6149 to the soul 5315, But it is an abomination 8441 to fools 3684 to turn 5493 away 5493 from evil 7451.
20 He who walks 1980 with wise 2450 men 2450 will be wise 2449, But the companion 7462 of fools 3684 will suffer 7489 harm 7489.
21 Adversity 7463 pursues 7291 sinners 2400, But the righteous 6662 will be rewarded 7999 with prosperity 2896.
22 A good 2896 man 2896 leaves 5157 an inheritance 5157 to his children's 1121 children 1121, And the wealth 2428 of the sinner 2398 is stored 6845 up for the righteous 6662.
23 Abundant 7230 food 400 {is in} the fallow 5215 ground 5215 of the poor 7326, But it is swept 5595 away 5595 by injustice.
24 He who withholds 2820 his rod 7626 hates 8130 his son 1121, But he who loves 157 him disciplines 4148 him diligently 7836.
25 The righteous 6662 has 398 enough 398 to satisfy 7648 his appetite 5315, But the stomach 990 of the wicked 7563 is in need 2637.

Chapter 14


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

The wise 2450 woman 802 builds 1129 her house 1004, But the foolish 200 tears 2040 it down 2040 with her own hands 3027.
2 He who walks 1980 in his uprightness 3476 fears 3372 the LORD 3068, But he who is devious 3868 in his ways 1870 despises 959 Him.
3 In the mouth 6310 of the foolish 191 is a rod 2415 for {his} back 1346, But the lips 8193 of the wise 2450 will protect 8104 them.
4 Where no 369 oxen 504 are, the manger 18 is clean 1249, But much 7230 revenue 8393 {comes} by the strength 3581 of the ox 7794.
5 A trustworthy 529 witness 5707 will not lie 3576, But a false 8267 witness 5707 utters 6315 lies 3577.
6 A scoffer 3917 seeks 1245 wisdom 2451 and {finds} none 369, But knowledge 1847 is easy 7043 to one who has 995 understanding 995.
7 Leave 1980 the presence 5048 of a fool 3684, Or you will not discern 3045 words 8193 of knowledge 1847.
8 The wisdom 2451 of the sensible 6175 is to understand 995 his way 1870, But the foolishness 200 of fools 3684 is deceit 4820.
9 Fools 191 mock 3917 at sin 817, But among 996 the upright 3477 there is good 7522 will 7522.
10 The heart 3820 knows 3045 its own 5315 bitterness 4787, And a stranger 2114 does not share 6148 its joy 8057.
11 The house 1004 of the wicked 7563 will be destroyed 8045, But the tent 168 of the upright 3477 will flourish 6524.
12 There 3426 is a way 1870 {which seems} right 3477 to a man 376, But its end 319 is the way 1870 of death 4194.
13 Even 1571 in laughter 7814 the heart 3820 may be in pain 3510, And the end 319 of joy 8057 may be grief 8424.
14 The backslider 5472 in heart 3820 will have 7646 his fill 7646 of his own ways 1870, But a good 2896 man 376 will {be satisfied} with his.
15 The naive 6612 believes 539 everything 3605, But the sensible 6175 man 6175 considers 995 his steps 804.
16 A wise 2450 man 2450 is cautious 3372 and turns 5493 away 5493 from evil 7451, But a fool 3684 is arrogant 5674 and careless 982.
17 A quick-tempered man acts 6213 foolishly 200, And a man 376 of evil 4209 devices 4209 is hated 8130.
18 The naive 6612 inherit 5157 foolishness 200, But the sensible 6175 are crowned 3803 with knowledge 1847.
19 The evil 7451 will bow 7817 down 7817 before 6440 the good 2896, And the wicked 7563 at the gates 8179 of the righteous 6662.
20 The poor 7326 is hated 8130 even 1571 by his neighbor 7453, But those who love 157 the rich 6223 are many 7227.
21 He who despises 936 his neighbor 7453 sins 2398, But happy 835 is he who is gracious 2603 to the poor 6035.
22 Will they not go 8582 astray 8582 who devise 2790 evil 7451? But kindness 2617 and truth 571 {will be to} those who devise 2790 good 2896.
23 In all 3605 labor 6089 there is profit 4195, But mere 8193 talk 1697 {leads} only 389 to poverty 4270.
24 The crown 5850 of the wise 2450 is their riches 6239, {But} the folly 200 of fools 3684 is foolishness 200.
25 A truthful 571 witness 5707 saves 5337 lives 5315, But he who utters 6315 lies 3577 is treacherous 4820.
26 In the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 there is strong 5797 confidence 4009, And his children 1121 will have 1961 refuge 4268.
27 The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 is a fountain 4726 of life 2425, That one may avoid 5493 the snares 4170 of death 4194.
28 In a multitude 7230 of people 5971 is a king's 4428 glory 1927, But in the dearth 657 of people 3816 is a prince's 7333 ruin 4288.
29 He who 750 is slow 750 to anger 639 has great 7227 understanding 8394, But he who 7116 is quick-tempered exalts 7311 folly 200.
30 A tranquil 4832 heart 3820 is life 2425 to the body 1320, But passion 7068 is rottenness 7538 to the bones 6106.
31 He who oppresses 6231 the poor 1800 taunts 2778 his Maker 6213, But he who is gracious 2603 to the needy 34 honors 3513 Him.
32 The wicked 7563 is thrust 1760 down 1760 by his wrongdoing 7463, But the righteous 6662 has 2620 a refuge 2620 when he dies 4194.
33 Wisdom 2451 rests 5117 in the heart 3820 of one who has 995 understanding 995, But in the hearts 7310 of fools 3684 it is made 3045 known 3045.
34 Righteousness 6666 exalts 7311 a nation 1471, But sin 2403 is a disgrace 2617 to {any} people 3816.
35 The king's 4428 favor 7522 is toward a servant 5650 who acts 7919 wisely 7919, But his anger 5678 is toward him who acts 954 shamefully 954.

Chapter 15


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

A gentle 7390 answer 4617 turns 7725 away 7725 wrath 2534, But a harsh 6089 word 1697 stirs 5927 up anger 639.
2 The tongue 3956 of the wise 2450 makes 3190 knowledge 1847 acceptable 3190, But the mouth 6310 of fools 3684 spouts 5042 folly 200.
3 The eyes 5869 of the LORD 3068 are in every 3605 place 4725, Watching 6822 the evil 7451 and the good 2896.
4 A soothing 4832 tongue 3956 is a tree 6086 of life 2425, But perversion 5558 in it crushes 7667 the spirit 7307.
5 A fool 191 rejects 5006 his father's 1 discipline 4148, But he who regards 8104 reproof 8433 is sensible 6191.
6 Great 7227 wealth 2633 is {in} the house 1004 of the righteous 6662, But trouble 5916 is in the income 8393 of the wicked 7563.
7 The lips 8193 of the wise 2450 spread 2219 knowledge 1847, But the hearts 3820 of fools 3684 are not so 3651.
8 The sacrifice 2077 of the wicked 7563 is an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, But the prayer 8605 of the upright 3477 is His delight 7522.
9 The way 1870 of the wicked 7563 is an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, But He loves 157 one who pursues 7291 righteousness 6666.
10 Grievous 7451 punishment 4148 is for him who forsakes 5800 the way 734; He who hates 8130 reproof 8433 will die 4191.
11 Sheol 7585 and Abaddon 11 {lie open} before 5048 the LORD 3068, How 637 much more 637 the hearts 3820 of men!
12 A scoffer 3917 does not love 157 one who reproves 3198 him, He will not go 1980 to the wise 2450.
13 A joyful 8056 heart 3820 makes 3190 a cheerful 3190 face 6440, But when the heart 3820 is sad 6094, the spirit 7307 is broken 5218.
14 The mind 3820 of the intelligent 995 seeks 1245 knowledge 1847, But the mouth 6310 of fools 3684 feeds 7462 on folly 200.
15 All 3605 the days 3117 of the afflicted 6041 are bad 7451, But a cheerful 2896 heart 3820 {has} a continual 8548 feast 4960.
16 Better 2896 is a little 4592 with the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 Than 4480 great 7227 treasure 214 and turmoil 4103 with it.
17 Better 2896 is a dish 737 of vegetables 3419 where 8033 love 160 is Than 4480 a fattened 75 ox 7794 {served} with hatred 8135.
18 A hot-tempered 2534 man 376 stirs 1624 up strife 4066, But the slow 750 to anger 639 calms 8252 a dispute 7379.
19 The way 1870 of the lazy 6102 is as a hedge 4881 of thorns 2312, But the path 734 of the upright 3477 is a highway 5549.
20 A wise 2450 son 1121 makes 8055 a father 1 glad 8055, But a foolish 3684 man 120 despises 959 his mother 517.
21 Folly 200 is joy 8057 to him who 2638 lacks 2638 sense 3820, But a man 376 of understanding 8394 walks 1980 straight 3474.
22 Without 369 consultation 5475, plans 4284 are frustrated 6565, But with many 7230 counselors 3289 they succeed 6965.
23 A man 376 has joy 8057 in an apt 6310 answer 4617, And how 4100 delightful 2896 is a timely 6256 word 1697!
24 The path 734 of life 2425 {leads} upward 4605 for the wise 7919 That he may keep 5493 away 5493 from Sheol 7585 below 4295.
25 The LORD 3068 will tear 5255 down 5255 the house 1004 of the proud 1343, But He will establish 5324 the boundary 1366 of the widow 490.
26 Evil 7451 plans 4284 are an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, But pleasant 5278 words 561 are pure 2889.
27 He who profits 1214 illicitly 1215 troubles 5916 his own house 1004, But he who hates 8130 bribes 4979 will live 2421.
28 The heart 3820 of the righteous 6662 ponders 1897 how to answer 6030, But the mouth 6310 of the wicked 7563 pours 5042 out evil 7451 things 7451.
29 The LORD 3068 is far 7350 from the wicked 7563, But He hears 8085 the prayer 8605 of the righteous 6662.
30 Bright 3974 eyes 5869 gladden 8055 the heart 3820; Good 2896 news 8052 puts 1878 fat 1878 on the bones 6106.
31 He whose ear 241 listens 8085 to the life-giving 2425 reproof 8433 Will dwell 3885 among 7130 the wise 2450.
32 He who neglects 6544 discipline 4148 despises 3988 himself 5315, But he who listens 8085 to reproof 8433 acquires 7069 understanding 3820.
33 The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 is the instruction 4148 for wisdom 2451, And before 6440 honor 3519 {comes} humility 6038.

Chapter 16


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

The plans 4633 of the heart 3820 belong to man 120, But the answer 4617 of the tongue 3956 is from the LORD 3068.
2 All 3605 the ways 1870 of a man 376 are clean 2134 in his own sight 5869, But the LORD 3068 weighs 8505 the motives 7307.
3 Commit 1556 your works 4639 to the LORD 3068 And your plans 4284 will be established 3559.
4 The LORD 3068 has made 6466 everything 3605 for its own purpose 4617, Even 1571 the wicked 7563 for the day 3117 of evil 7463.
5 Everyone 3605 who is proud 1364 in heart 3820 is an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068; Assuredly 3027, he will not be unpunished 5352.
6 By lovingkindness 2617 and truth 571 iniquity 5771 is atoned 3722 for, And by the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 one keeps 5493 away 5493 from evil 7451.
7 When a man's 376 ways 1870 are pleasing 7521 to the LORD 3068, He makes 7999 even 1571 his enemies 340 to be at peace 7999 with him.
8 Better 2896 is a little 4592 with righteousness 6666 Than 4480 great 7230 income 8393 with injustice.
9 The mind 3820 of man 120 plans 2803 his way 1870, But the LORD 3068 directs 3559 his steps 6806.
10 A divine 7081 decision 7081 is in the lips 8193 of the king 4428; His mouth 6310 should not err 4603 in judgment 4941.
11 A just 4941 balance 6425 and scales 3976 belong to the LORD 3068; All 3605 the weights 68 of the bag 3599 are His concern 4639.
12 It is an abomination 8441 for kings 4428 to commit 6213 wicked 7562 acts 7562, For a throne 3678 is established 3559 on righteousness 6666.
13 Righteous 6664 lips 8193 are the delight 7522 of kings 4428, And he who speaks 1696 right 3477 is loved 157.
14 The fury 2534 of a king 4428 is {like} messengers 4397 of death 4194, But a wise 2450 man 376 will appease 3722 it.
15 In the light 216 of a king's 4428 face 6440 is life 2425, And his favor 7522 is like a cloud 5645 with the spring 4456 rain 4456.
16 How 4100 much better 2896 it is to get 7069 wisdom 2451 than 4480 gold 2742! And to get 7069 understanding 998 is to be chosen 977 above 4480 silver 3701.
17 The highway 4546 of the upright 3477 is to depart 5493 from evil 7451; He who watches 5341 his way 1870 preserves 8104 his life 5315.
18 Pride 1347 {goes} before 6440 destruction 7667, And a haughty 1363 spirit 7307 before 6440 stumbling 3783.
19 It is better 2896 to be humble 8217 in spirit 7307 with the lowly 6041 Than 4480 to divide 2505 the spoil 7998 with the proud 1343.
20 He who gives 7919 attention 7919 to the word 1697 will find 4672 good 2896, And blessed 835 is he who trusts 982 in the LORD 3068.
21 The wise 2450 in heart 3820 will be called 7121 understanding 995, And sweetness 4986 of speech 8193 increases 3254 persuasiveness 3948.
22 Understanding 7922 is a fountain 4726 of life 2425 to one who 1167 has 1167 it, But the discipline 4148 of fools 191 is folly 200.
23 The heart 3820 of the wise 2450 instructs 7919 his mouth 6310 And adds 3254 persuasiveness 3948 to his lips 8193.
24 Pleasant 5278 words 561 are a honeycomb, Sweet 4966 to the soul 5315 and healing 4832 to the bones 6106.
25 There 3426 is a way 1870 {which seems} right 3477 to a man 376, But its end 319 is the way 1870 of death 4194.
26 A worker's 6001 appetite 5315 works 5998 for him, For his hunger 6310 urges 404 him {on.}
27 A worthless 1100 man 376 digs 3738 up evil 7463, While 5921 his words 8193 are like scorching 6866 fire 784.
28 A perverse 8419 man 376 spreads 7971 strife 4066, And a slanderer 7279 separates 6504 intimate 441 friends 441.
29 A man 376 of violence 2555 entices 6601 his neighbor 7453 And leads 1980 him in a way 1870 that is not good 2896.
30 He who winks 6095 his eyes 5869 {does so} to devise 2803 perverse 8419 things 8419; He who compresses 7169 his lips 8193 brings 3615 evil 7463 to pass 3615.
31 A gray 7872 head 7872 is a crown 5850 of glory 8597; It is found 4672 in the way 1870 of righteousness 6666.
32 He who 750 is slow 750 to anger 639 is better 2896 than 4480 the mighty 1368, And he who rules 4910 his spirit 7307, than 4480 he who captures 3920 a city 5892.
33 The lot 1486 is cast 2904 into the lap 2436, But its every 3605 decision 4941 is from the LORD 3068.

Chapter 17


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

Better 2896 is a dry 2720 morsel 6595 and quietness 7962 with it Than 4480 a house 1004 full 4392 of feasting 2077 with strife 7379.
2 A servant 5650 who acts 7919 wisely 7919 will rule 4910 over a son 1121 who acts 954 shamefully 954, And will share 2505 in the inheritance 5159 among 8432 brothers 251.
3 The refining 4715 pot 4715 is for silver 3701 and the furnace 3564 for gold 2091, But the LORD 3068 tests 974 hearts 3820.
4 An evildoer 7489 listens 7181 to wicked 205 lips 8193; A liar 8267 pays 238 attention 238 to a destructive 1942 tongue 3956.
5 He who mocks 3932 the poor 7326 taunts 2778 his Maker 6213; He who rejoices 8056 at calamity 343 will not go 5352 unpunished 5352.
6 Grandchildren 1121 are the crown 5850 of old 2205 men 2205, And the glory 8597 of sons 1121 is their fathers 1.
7 Excellent 3499 speech 8193 is not fitting 5000 for a fool 5036, Much less 637 are lying 8267 lips 8193 to a prince 5081.
8 A bribe 7810 is a charm in the sight 5869 of its owner 1167; Wherever he turns 6437, he prospers 7919.
9 He who conceals 3680 a transgression 6588 seeks 1245 love 160, But he who repeats 8138 a matter 1697 separates 6504 intimate 441 friends 441.
10 A rebuke 1606 goes 5181 deeper 5181 into one who has 995 understanding 995 Than 4480 a hundred 3967 blows 5221 into a fool 3684.
11 A rebellious 4805 man 4805 seeks 1245 only 389 evil 7451, So a cruel 394 messenger 4397 will be sent 7971 against him.
12 Let a man 376 meet 6298 a bear 1677 robbed 7909 of her cubs 7909, Rather 408 than a fool 3684 in his folly 200.
13 He who returns 7725 evil 7463 for good 2899, Evil 7463 will not depart 4185 from his house 1004.
14 The beginning 7225 of strife 4066 is {like} letting 6362 out water 4325, So abandon 5203 the quarrel 7379 before 6440 it breaks 1566 out.
15 He who justifies 6663 the wicked 7563 and he who condemns 7561 the righteous 6662, Both of them alike 1571 are an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068.
16 Why is there a price 4242 in the hand 3027 of a fool 3684 to buy 7069 wisdom 2451, When he has 369 no 369 sense 3820?
17 A friend 7453 loves 157 at all 3605 times 6256, And a brother 251 is born 3205 for adversity 7463.
18 A man 120 lacking 2638 in sense 3820 pledges And becomes 6148 guarantor 6161 in the presence 6440 of his neighbor 7453.
19 He who loves 157 transgression 6588 loves 157 strife 4683; He who raises 1361 his door 6607 seeks 1245 destruction 7667.
20 He who 6141 has 6141 a crooked 6141 mind 3820 finds 4672 no 3808 good 2896, And he who is perverted 2015 in his language 3956 falls 5307 into evil 7463.
21 He who sires 3205 a fool 3684 {does so} to his sorrow 8424, And the father 1 of a fool 5036 has 8055 no 3808 joy 8055.
22 A joyful 8056 heart 3820 is good 3190 medicine 1456, But a broken 5218 spirit 7307 dries 3001 up the bones 1634.
23 A wicked 7563 man 7563 receives 3947 a bribe 7810 from the bosom 2436 To pervert 5186 the ways 734 of justice 4941.
24 Wisdom 2451 is in the presence 6440 of the one who has 995 understanding 995, But the eyes 5869 of a fool 3684 are on the ends 7097 of the earth 776.
25 A foolish 3684 son 1121 is a grief 3708 to his father 1 And bitterness 4470 to her who bore 3205 him.
26 It is also 1571 not good 2896 to fine 6064 the righteous 6662, {Nor} to strike 5221 the noble 5081 for {their} uprightness 3476.
27 He who restrains 2820 his words 561 has 3045 knowledge 1847, And he who 7119 has a cool 7119 spirit 7307 is a man 376 of understanding 8394.
28 Even 1571 a fool 191, when he keeps 2790 silent 2790, is considered 2803 wise 2450; When he closes 331 his lips 8193, he is {considered} prudent 995.

Chapter 18


1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

He who separates 6504 himself seeks 1245 {his own} desire 8378, He quarrels 1566 against all 3605 sound 8454 wisdom 8454.
2 A fool 3684 does not delight 2654 in understanding 8394, But only 518 in revealing 1540 his own mind 3820.
3 When a wicked 7563 man 7563 comes 935, contempt 937 also 1571 comes 935, And with dishonor 7036 {comes} scorn 2781.
4 The words 1697 of a man's 376 mouth 6310 are deep 6013 waters 4325; The fountain 4726 of wisdom 2451 is a bubbling 5042 brook 5158.
5 To show 5375 partiality to the wicked 7563 is not good 2896, {Nor} to thrust 5186 aside 5186 the righteous 6662 in judgment 4941.
6 A fool's 3684 lips 8193 bring 935 strife 7379, And his mouth 6310 calls 7121 for blows 4112.
7 A fool's 3684 mouth 6310 is his ruin 4288, And his lips 8193 are the snare 4170 of his soul 5315.
8 The words 1697 of a whisperer 7279 are like dainty 3859 morsels 3859, And they go 3381 down 3381 into the innermost 2315 parts 2315 of the body 990.
9 He also 1571 who is slack 7503 in his work 4399 Is brother 251 to him who destroys 7843.
10 The name 8034 of the LORD 3068 is a strong 5797 tower 4026; The righteous 6662 runs 7323 into it and is safe 7682.
11 A rich 6223 man's 6223 wealth 1952 is his strong 5797 city 7151, And like a high 7682 wall 2346 in his own imagination 4906.
12 Before 6440 destruction 7667 the heart 3820 of man 376 is haughty 1361, But humility 6038 {goes} before 6440 honor 3519.
13 He who gives 7725 an answer 1697 before 2962 he hears 8085, It is folly 200 and shame 3639 to him.
14 The spirit 7307 of a man 376 can endure 3557 his sickness 4245, But {as for} a broken 5218 spirit 7307 who 4310 can bear 5375 it?
15 The mind 3820 of the prudent 995 acquires 7069 knowledge 1847, And the ear 241 of the wise 2450 seeks 1245 knowledge 1847.
16 A man's 120 gift 4976 makes 7337 room 7337 for him And brings 5148 him before 6440 great 1419 men 1419.
17 The first 7223 to plead 7379 his case 7379 {seems} right 6662, {Until} another 7453 comes 935 and examines 2713 him.
18 The {cast} lot 1486 puts 7673 an end 7673 to strife 4066 And decides 6504 between 996 the mighty 6099 ones.
19 A brother 251 offended 6586 {is harder to be won} than 4480 a strong 5797 city 7151, And contentions 4066 are like the bars 1280 of a citadel 759.
20 With the fruit 6529 of a man's 376 mouth 6310 his stomach 990 will be satisfied 7646; He will be satisfied 7646 {with} the product 8393 of his lips 8193.
21 Death 4194 and life 2425 are in the power 3027 of the tongue 3956, And those who love 157 it will eat 398 its fruit 6529.
22 He who finds 4672 a wife 802 finds 4672 a good 2896 thing 2896 And obtains 6329 favor 7522 from the LORD 3068.
23 The poor 7326 man 7326 utters 1696 supplications 8469, But the rich 6223 man 6223 answers 6030 roughly 5794.
24 A man 376 of {too many} friends 7453 {comes} to ruin 7489, But there 3426 is a friend 157 who 1695 sticks 1695 closer 1692 than 4480 a brother 251.

Chapter 19


1

On Life and Conduct

Better 2896 is a poor 7326 man who walks 1980 in his integrity 8537 Than 4480 he who 6141 is perverse 6141 in speech 8193 and is a fool 3684.
2 Also 1571 it is not good 2896 for a person 5315 to be without 3808 knowledge 1847, And he who hurries 213 his footsteps 7272 errs 2398.
3 The foolishness 200 of man 120 ruins 5557 his way 1870, And his heart 3820 rages 2196 against 5921 the LORD 3068.
4 Wealth 1952 adds 3254 many 7227 friends 7453, But a poor 1800 man 1800 is separated 6504 from his friend 7453.
5 A false 8267 witness 5707 will not go 5352 unpunished 5352, And he who tells 6315 lies 3577 will not escape 4422.
6 Many 7227 will seek 2470 the favor 6440 of a generous 5081 man 5081, And every 3605 man 3605 is a friend 7453 to him who gives gifts 4976.
7 All 3605 the brothers 251 of a poor 7326 man 7326 hate 8130 him; How 637 much more 637 do his friends 4828 abandon 7368 him! He pursues 7291 {them with} words 561, {but} they are gone 3808.
8 He who gets 7069 wisdom 3820 loves 157 his own soul 5315; He who keeps 8104 understanding 8394 will find 4672 good 2896.
9 A false 8267 witness 5707 will not go 5352 unpunished 5352, And he who tells 6315 lies 3577 will perish 6.
10 Luxury 8588 is not fitting 5000 for a fool 3684; Much less 637 for a slave 5650 to rule 4910 over princes 8269.
11 A man's 120 discretion 7922 makes 748 him slow 748 to anger 639, And it is his glory 8597 to overlook 5674 a transgression 6588.
12 The king's 4428 wrath 2197 is like the roaring 5099 of a lion 3715, But his favor 7522 is like dew 2919 on the grass 6212.
13 A foolish 3684 son 1121 is destruction 1942 to his father 1, And the contentions 4066 of a wife 802 are a constant 2956 dripping 1812.
14 House 1004 and wealth 1952 are an inheritance 5159 from fathers 1, But a prudent 7919 wife 802 is from the LORD 3068.
15 Laziness 6103 casts 5307 into a deep 8639 sleep 8639, And an idle 7423 man 5315 will suffer 7456 hunger 7456.
16 He who keeps 8104 the commandment 4687 keeps 8104 his soul 5315, {But} he who is careless 959 of conduct 1870 will die 4191.
17 One who is gracious 2603 to a poor 1800 man 1800 lends 3867 to the LORD 3068, And He will repay 7999 him for his good 1576 deed 1576.
18 Discipline 3256 your son 1121 while 3588 there 3426 is hope 8615, And do not desire his death 4191.
19 {A man of} great 1419 anger 2534 will bear 5375 the penalty 6066, For if 518 you rescue 5337 {him,} you will only have to do 3254 it again 3254.
20 Listen 8085 to counsel 6098 and accept 6901 discipline 4148, That you may be wise 2449 the rest 319 of your days.
21 Many 7227 plans 4284 are in a man's 376 heart 3820, But the counsel 6098 of the LORD 3068 will stand 6965.
22 What 8378 is desirable 8378 in a man 120 is his kindness 2617, And {it is} better 2896 to be a poor 7326 man than 4480 a liar.
23 The fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 {leads} to life 2425, So that one may sleep 3885 satisfied 7649, untouched by evil 7451.
24 The sluggard 6102 buries 2934 his hand 3027 in the dish 6747, {But} will not even 1571 bring 7725 it back 7725 to his mouth 6310.
25 Strike 5221 a scoffer 3917 and the naive 6612 may become 6191 shrewd 6191, But reprove 3198 one who has 995 understanding 995 and he will gain 995 knowledge 1847.
26 He who assaults 7703 {his} father 1 {and} drives 1272 {his} mother 517 away 1272 Is a shameful 954 and disgraceful 2659 son 1121.
27 Cease 2308 listening 8085, my son 1121, to discipline 4148, {And you will} stray 7686 from the words 561 of knowledge 1847.
28 A rascally 1100 witness 5707 makes 3917 a mockery 3917 of justice 4941, And the mouth 6310 of the wicked 7563 spreads 1104 iniquity 205.
29 Judgments 8201 are prepared 3559 for scoffers 3917, And blows 4112 for the back 1460 of fools 3684.

Chapter 20


1

On Life and Conduct

Wine 3196 is a mocker 3917, strong 7941 drink 7941 a brawler 1993, And whoever 3605 is intoxicated 7686 by it is not wise 2449.
2 The terror 367 of a king 4428 is like the growling 5099 of a lion 3715; He who provokes 5674 him to anger 5674 forfeits 2398 his own life 5315.
3 Keeping 7674 away 7674 from strife 7379 is an honor 3519 for a man 376, But any 3605 fool 191 will quarrel 1566.
4 The sluggard 6102 does not plow 2790 after 4480 the autumn 2779, So he begs 7592 during the harvest 7105 and has 369 nothing 369.
5 A plan 6098 in the heart 3820 of a man 376 is {like} deep 6013 water 4325, But a man 376 of understanding 8394 draws 1802 it out.
6 Many 7230 a man 120 proclaims 7121 his own 376 loyalty 2617, But who 4310 can find 4672 a trustworthy 529 man 376?
7 A righteous 6662 man 6662 who walks 1980 in his integrity 8537-- How blessed 835 are his sons 1121 after 310 him.
8 A king 4428 who sits 3427 on the throne 3678 of justice 1779 Disperses 2219 all 3605 evil 7451 with his eyes 5869.
9 Who 4310 can say 559, "I have cleansed 2135 my heart 3820, I am pure 2891 from my sin 2403"?
10 Differing 68 weights 68 and differing 374 measures 374, Both of them are abominable 8441 to the LORD 3068.
11 It is by his deeds 4611 that a lad 5288 distinguishes 5234 himself If 518 his conduct 6467 is pure 2134 and right 3477.
12 The hearing 8085 ear 241 and the seeing 7200 eye 5869, The LORD 3068 has made 6213 both of them.
13 Do not love 157 sleep 8142, or 6435 you will become 3423 poor 3423; Open 6491 your eyes 5869, {and} you will be satisfied 7646 with food 3899.
14 "Bad 7451, bad 7451," says 559 the buyer 7069, But when he goes 235 his way 235, then 227 he boasts 1984.
15 There 3426 is gold 2091, and an abundance 7230 of jewels 6443; But the lips 8193 of knowledge 1847 are a more 637 precious 3366 thing 3627.
16 Take 3947 his garment 899 when 3588 he becomes 6148 surety 6148 for a stranger 2114; And for foreigners 5237, hold 2254 him in pledge 2254.
17 Bread 3899 obtained by falsehood 8267 is sweet 6156 to a man 376, But afterward 310 his mouth 6310 will be filled 4390 with gravel 2687.
18 Prepare 3559 plans 4284 by consultation 6098, And make 6213 war 4421 by wise 8458 guidance 8458.
19 He who goes 1980 about as a slanderer 7400 reveals 1540 secrets 5475, Therefore do not associate 6148 with a gossip.
20 He who curses 7043 his father 1 or his mother 517, His lamp 5216 will go 1846 out in time 380 of darkness 2822.
21 An inheritance 5159 gained 973 hurriedly 926 at the beginning 7223 Will not be blessed 1288 in the end 319.
22 Do not say 559, "I will repay 7999 evil 7451"; Wait 6960 for the LORD 3068, and He will save 3467 you.
23 Differing 68 weights 68 are an abomination 8441 to the LORD 3068, And a false 4820 scale 3976 is not good 2896.
24 Man's 1397 steps 4703 are {ordained} by the LORD 3068, How 4100 then can man 120 understand 995 his way 1870?
25 It is a trap 4170 for a man 120 to say 3886 rashly 3886, "It is holy 6944!" And after 310 the vows 5088 to make 1239 inquiry 1239.
26 A wise 2450 king 4428 winnows 2219 the wicked 7563, And drives 7725 the {threshing} wheel 212 over 5921 them.
27 The spirit 5397 of man 120 is the lamp 5216 of the LORD 3068, Searching 2664 all 3605 the innermost 2315 parts 2315 of his being 990.
28 Loyalty 2617 and truth 571 preserve 5341 the king 4428, And he upholds 5582 his throne 3678 by righteousness 2617.
29 The glory 8597 of young 970 men 970 is their strength 3581, And the honor 1926 of old 2205 men 2205 is their gray 7872 hair 7872.
30 Stripes 2250 that wound 6482 scour 4838 away evil 7451, And strokes 4347 {reach} the innermost 2315 parts 990.

Chapter 21


1

On Life and Conduct

The king's 4428 heart 3820 is {like} channels 6388 of water 4325 in the hand 3027 of the LORD 3068; He turns 5186 it wherever He wishes 2654.
2 Every 3605 man's 376 way 1870 is right 3477 in his own eyes 5869, But the LORD 3068 weighs 8505 the hearts 3820.
3 To do 6213 righteousness 6666 and justice 4941 Is desired 977 by the LORD 3068 more 4480 than 4480 sacrifice 2077.
4 Haughty 7312 eyes 5869 and a proud 7342 heart 3820, The lamp 5215 of the wicked 7563, is sin 2403.
5 The plans 4284 of the diligent 2742 {lead} surely 389 to advantage 4195, But everyone 3605 who is hasty 213 {comes} surely 389 to poverty 4270.
6 The acquisition 6467 of treasures 214 by a lying 8267 tongue 3956 Is a fleeting 5086 vapor 1892, the pursuit 1245 of death 4194.
7 The violence 7701 of the wicked 7563 will drag 1641 them away 1641, Because 3588 they refuse 3985 to act 6213 with justice 4941.
8 The way 1870 of a guilty 2054 man 376 is crooked 2019, But as for the pure 2134, his conduct 6467 is upright 3477.
9 It is better 2896 to live 3427 in a corner 6438 of a roof 1406 Than 4480 in a house 1004 shared 2267 with a contentious 4066 woman 802.
10 The soul 5315 of the wicked 7563 desires 183 evil 7451; His neighbor 7453 finds 2603 no 3808 favor 2603 in his eyes 5869.
11 When the scoffer 3917 is punished 6064, the naive 6612 becomes 2449 wise 7919; But when the wise 2449 is instructed 7919, he receives 3947 knowledge 1847.
12 The righteous 6662 one 6662 considers 7919 the house 1004 of the wicked 7563, Turning 5557 the wicked 7563 to ruin 7451.
13 He who shuts 331 his ear 241 to the cry 2201 of the poor 1800 Will also 1571 cry 7121 himself 1931 and not be answered 6030.
14 A gift 4976 in secret 5643 subdues 3711 anger 639, And a bribe 7810 in the bosom 2436, strong 5794 wrath 2534.
15 The exercise 6213 of justice 4941 is joy 8057 for the righteous 6662, But is terror 4288 to the workers 6466 of iniquity 205.
16 A man 120 who wanders 8582 from the way 1870 of understanding 7919 Will rest 5117 in the assembly 6951 of the dead 7496.
17 He who loves 157 pleasure 8057 {will become} a poor 4270 man 376; He who loves 157 wine 3196 and oil 8081 will not become 6238 rich 6238.
18 The wicked 7563 is a ransom 3724 for the righteous 6662, And the treacherous 898 is in the place 8478 of the upright 3477.
19 It is better 2896 to live 3427 in a desert 4057 land 776 Than 4480 with a contentious 4066 and vexing 3708 woman 802.
20 There is precious 2530 treasure 214 and oil 8081 in the dwelling 5116 of the wise 2450, But a foolish 3684 man 120 swallows 1104 it up.
21 He who pursues 7291 righteousness 6666 and loyalty 2617 Finds 4672 life 2425, righteousness 6666 and honor 3519.
22 A wise 2450 man 2450 scales 5927 the city 5892 of the mighty 1368 And brings 3381 down 3381 the stronghold 5797 in which 4009 they trust 4009.
23 He who guards 8104 his mouth 6310 and his tongue 3956, Guards 8104 his soul 5315 from troubles 6869.
24 "Proud 2086," "Haughty 3093," "Scoffer 3917," are his names 8034, Who acts 6213 with insolent 2087 pride 2087.
25 The desire 8378 of the sluggard 6102 puts 4191 him to death 4191, For his hands 3027 refuse 3985 to work 6213;
26 All 3605 day 3117 long he is craving 183, While the righteous 6662 gives 5414 and does not hold 2820 back 2820.
27 The sacrifice 2077 of the wicked 7563 is an abomination 8441, How 637 much more when 3588 he brings 935 it with evil 2154 intent 2154!
28 A false 3577 witness 5707 will perish 6, But the man 376 who listens 8085 {to the truth} will speak 1696 forever 5331.
29 A wicked 7563 man 376 displays 5810 a bold 5810 face 6440, But as for the upright 3477, he makes 3559 his way 1870 sure 3559.
30 There 369 is no 369 wisdom 2451 and no 369 understanding 8394 And no 369 counsel 6098 against 5048 the LORD 3068.
31 The horse 5483 is prepared 3559 for the day 3117 of battle 4421, But victory 8668 belongs to the LORD 3068.

Chapter 22


1

On Life and Conduct

A {good} name 8034 is to be more 4480 desired 977 than 4480 great 7227 wealth 6239, Favor 2580 is better 2896 than 4480 silver 3701 and gold 2091.
2 The rich 6223 and the poor 7326 have 6298 a common 6298 bond 6298, The LORD 3068 is the maker 6213 of them all 3605.
3 The prudent 6175 sees 7200 the evil 7463 and hides 5641 himself, But the naive 6612 go 5674 on, and are punished 6064 for it.
4 The reward 6118 of humility 6038 {and} the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 Are riches 6239, honor 3519 and life 2425.
5 Thorns 6791 {and} snares 6341 are in the way 1870 of the perverse 6141; He who guards 8104 himself 5315 will be far 7368 from them.
6 Train 2596 up a child 5288 in the way 1870 he should go, Even 1571 when 3588 he is old 2204 he will not depart 5493 from it.
7 The rich 6223 rules 4910 over the poor 7326, And the borrower 3867 {becomes} the lender's 3867 slave 5650.
8 He who sows 2232 iniquity 5767 will reap 7114 vanity 205, And the rod 7626 of his fury 5678 will perish 3615.
9 He who is generous will be blessed 1288, For he gives 5414 some 4480 of his food 3899 to the poor 1800.
10 Drive 1644 out the scoffer 3917, and contention 4066 will go 3318 out, Even strife 1779 and dishonor 7036 will cease 7673.
11 He who loves 157 purity 2889 of heart 3820 {And} whose speech 8193 is gracious 2580, the king 4428 is his friend 7453.
12 The eyes 5869 of the LORD 3068 preserve 5341 knowledge 1847, But He overthrows 5557 the words 1697 of the treacherous 898 man.
13 The sluggard 6102 says 559, "There is a lion 738 outside 2351; I will be killed 7523 in the streets 7339!"
14 The mouth 6310 of an adulteress 2114 is a deep 6013 pit 7745; He who is cursed 2194 of the LORD 3068 will fall 5307 into it.
15 Foolishness 200 is bound 7194 up in the heart 3820 of a child 5288; The rod 7626 of discipline 4148 will remove 7368 it far 7368 from him.
16 He who oppresses 6231 the poor 1800 to make 7235 more 7235 for himself Or who gives 5414 to the rich 6223, {will} only 389 {come to} poverty 4270.
17 ¶ Incline 5186 your ear 241 and hear 8085 the words 1697 of the wise 2450, And apply 7896 your mind 3820 to my knowledge 1847;
18 For it will be pleasant 5273 if 3588 you keep 8104 them within 990 you, That they may be ready 3559 on your lips 8193.
19 So that your trust 4009 may be in the LORD 3068, I have taught 3045 you today 3117, even 637 you.
20 Have I not written 3789 to you excellent 7991 things 7991 Of counsels 4156 and knowledge 1847,
21 To make you know 3045 the certainty 7189 of the words 561 of truth 571 That you may correctly 571 answer 7725 him who sent 7971 you?
22 ¶ Do not rob 1497 the poor 1800 because 3588 he is poor 1800, Or crush 1792 the afflicted 6041 at the gate 8179;
23 For the LORD 3068 will plead 7378 their case 7379 And take 6906 the life 5315 of those who rob 6906 them.
24 ¶ Do not associate 7462 with a man 1167 {given} to anger 639; Or go 935 with a hot-tempered 2534 man 376,
25 Or 6435 you will learn 502 his ways 734 And find 3947 a snare 4170 for yourself 5315.
26 ¶ Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become 6148 guarantors 6148 for debts 4859.
27 If 518 you have 369 nothing 369 with which to pay 7999, Why 4100 should he take 3947 your bed 4904 from under 8478 you?
28 ¶ Do not move 5472 the ancient 5769 boundary 1366 Which 834 your fathers 1 have set 6213.
29 ¶ Do you see 2372 a man 376 skilled 4106 in his work 4399? He will stand 3320 before 6440 kings 4428; He will not stand 3320 before 6440 obscure 2823 men 2823.

Chapter 23


1

On Life and Conduct

When 3588 you sit 3427 down 3427 to dine 3898 with a ruler 4910, Consider 995 carefully 995 what 834 is before 6440 you,
2 And put 7760 a knife 7915 to your throat 3930 If 518 you are a man 1167 of {great} appetite 5315.
3 Do not desire 183 his delicacies 4303, For it is deceptive 3577 food 3899.
4 ¶ Do not weary 3021 yourself to gain 6238 wealth 6238, Cease 2308 from your consideration 998 {of it.}
5 When you set 5774 your eyes 5869 on it, it is gone 369. For {wealth} certainly 6213 makes 6213 itself wings 3671 Like an eagle 5404 that flies 5774 {toward} the heavens 8064.
6 ¶ Do not eat 3898 the bread 3899 of a selfish man 7451, Or desire 183 his delicacies 4303;
7 For as he thinks 8176 within himself 5315, so 3651 he is. He says 559 to you, "Eat 398 and drink 8354!" But his heart 3820 is not with you.
8 You will vomit 7006 up the morsel 6595 you have eaten 398, And waste 7843 your compliments.
9 ¶ Do not speak 1696 in the hearing 241 of a fool 3684, For he will despise 936 the wisdom 7922 of your words 4405.
10 ¶ Do not move 5472 the ancient 5769 boundary 1366 Or go 935 into the fields 7704 of the fatherless 3490,
11 For their Redeemer 1350 is strong 2389; He will plead 7378 their case 7379 against 854 you.
12 Apply 935 your heart 3820 to discipline 4148 And your ears 241 to words 561 of knowledge 1847.
13 ¶ Do not hold 4513 back 4513 discipline 4148 from the child 5288, Although 3588 you strike 5221 him with the rod 7626, he will not die 4191.
14 You shall strike 5221 him with the rod 7626 And rescue 5337 his soul 5315 from Sheol 7585.
15 ¶ My son 1121, if 518 your heart 3820 is wise 2449, My own heart 3820 also 1571 will be glad 8055;
16 And my inmost 3629 being 3629 will rejoice 5937 When your lips 8193 speak 1696 what 4339 is right 4339.
17 ¶ Do not let your heart 3820 envy 7065 sinners 2400, But {live} in the fear 3374 of the LORD 3068 always.
18 Surely there 3426 is a future 319, And your hope 8615 will not be cut 3772 off 3772.
19 Listen 8085, my son 1121, and be wise 2449, And direct 833 your heart 3820 in the way 1870.
20 Do not be with heavy 5433 drinkers 5433 of wine 3196, {Or} with gluttonous 2151 eaters 2151 of meat 1320;
21 For the heavy 5433 drinker 5433 and the glutton 2151 will come 3423 to poverty 3423, And drowsiness 5124 will clothe 3847 {one} with rags 7168.
22 ¶ Listen 8085 to your father 1 who begot 3205 you, And do not despise 936 your mother 517 when 3588 she is old 2204.
23 Buy 7069 truth 571, and do not sell 4376 {it,} {Get} wisdom 2451 and instruction 4148 and understanding 998.
24 ¶ The father 1 of the righteous 6662 will greatly 1524 rejoice 1523, And he who sires 3205 a wise 2450 son 2450 will be glad 8055 in him.
25 Let your father 1 and your mother 517 be glad 8055, And let her rejoice 1523 who gave 3205 birth 3205 to you.
26 ¶ Give 5414 me your heart 3820, my son 1121, And let your eyes 5869 delight 7521 in my ways 1870.
27 For a harlot 2181 is a deep 6013 pit 7745 And an adulterous 5237 woman 5237 is a narrow 6862 well 875.
28 Surely 637 she lurks 693 as a robber 2863, And increases 3254 the faithless 898 among men 120.
29 ¶ Who 4310 has woe 190? Who 4310 has sorrow 17? Who 4310 has contentions 4066? Who 4310 has complaining 7879? Who 4310 has wounds 6482 without 2600 cause 2600? Who 4310 has redness 2448 of eyes 5869?
30 Those who linger 309 long over 5921 wine 3196, Those who go 935 to taste 2713 mixed 4469 wine 4469.
31 Do not look 7200 on the wine 3196 when 3588 it is red 119, When 3588 it sparkles in the cup 3563, When it goes 1980 down 1980 smoothly 4339;
32 At the last 319 it bites 5391 like a serpent 5175 And stings 6567 like a viper 6848.
33 Your eyes 5869 will see 7200 strange 2114 things 2114 And your mind 3820 will utter 1696 perverse 8419 things 8419.
34 And you will be like one who lies 7901 down 7901 in the middle 3820 of the sea 3220, Or like one who lies 7901 down 7901 on the top 7218 of a mast 2260.
35 "They struck 5221 me, {but} I did not become 2470 ill 2470; They beat 1986 me, {but} I did not know 3045 {it.} When 4970 shall I awake 7019? I will seek 1245 another drink."

Chapter 24


1

Precepts and Warnings

Do not be envious 7065 of evil 7463 men 376, Nor 408 desire 183 to be with them;
2 For their minds 3820 devise 1897 violence 7701, And their lips 8193 talk 1696 of trouble 5999.
3 ¶ By wisdom 2451 a house 1004 is built 1129, And by understanding 8394 it is established 3559;
4 And by knowledge 1847 the rooms 2315 are filled 4390 With all 3605 precious 3368 and pleasant 5273 riches 1952.
5 ¶ A wise 2450 man 1397 is strong 5797, And a man 376 of knowledge 1847 increases 553 power 3581.
6 For by wise 8458 guidance 8458 you will wage 6213 war 4421, And in abundance 7230 of counselors 3289 there is victory 8668.
7 ¶ Wisdom 2451 is {too} exalted 7311 for a fool 191, He does not open 6605 his mouth 6310 in the gate 8179.
8 ¶ One who plans 2803 to do 7489 evil 7489, Men will call 7121 a schemer.
9 The devising 2154 of folly 200 is sin 2403, And the scoffer 3917 is an abomination 8441 to men 120.
10 ¶ If you are slack 7503 in the day 3117 of distress 6869, Your strength 3581 is limited 6862.
11 ¶ Deliver 5337 those who are being taken 3947 away to death 4194, And those who are staggering 4131 to slaughter 2027, Oh 518 hold 2820 {them} back 2820.
12 If 3588 you say 559, "See 2005, we did not know 3045 this 2088," Does He not consider 995 {it} who weighs 8505 the hearts 3820? And does He not know 3045 {it} who keeps 5341 your soul 5315? And will He not render 7725 to man 120 according to his work 6467?
13 ¶ My son 1121, eat 398 honey 1706, for it is good 2896, Yes, the honey 5317 from the comb 5317 is sweet 4966 to your taste 2441;
14 Know 3045 {that} wisdom 2451 is thus 3651 for your soul 5315; If 518 you find 4672 {it,} then there 3426 will be a future 319, And your hope 8615 will not be cut 3772 off 3772.
15 ¶ Do not lie 693 in wait 693, O wicked 7563 man 7563, against the dwelling 5116 of the righteous 6662; Do not destroy 7703 his resting 7258 place 7258;
16 For a righteous 6662 man 6662 falls 5307 seven 7651 times 7651, and rises 6965 again, But the wicked 7563 stumble 3782 in {time of} calamity 7463.
17 ¶ Do not rejoice 8055 when your enemy 340 falls 5307, And do not let your heart 3820 be glad 1523 when he stumbles 3782;
18 Or 6435 the LORD 3068 will see 7200 {it} and be displeased, And turn 7725 His anger 639 away 7725 from him.
19 ¶ Do not fret 2734 because of evildoers 7489 Or be envious 7065 of the wicked 7563;
20 For there will be no 3808 future 319 for the evil 7451 man 7451; The lamp 5216 of the wicked 7563 will be put 1846 out.
21 ¶ My son 1121, fear 3372 the LORD 3068 and the king 4428; Do not associate 6148 with those who are given 8132 to change 8132,
22 For their calamity 343 will rise 6965 suddenly 6597, And who 4310 knows 3045 the ruin 6365 {that comes} from both 8147 of them?
23 ¶ These 428 also 1571 are sayings of the wise 2450. To show 5234 partiality in judgment 4941 is not good 2896.
24 He who says 559 to the wicked 7563, "You are righteous 6662," Peoples 5971 will curse 6895 him, nations 3816 will abhor 2194 him;
25 But to those who rebuke 3198 the {wicked} will be delight 5276, And a good 2896 blessing 1293 will come 935 upon them.
26 He kisses 5401 the lips 8193 Who gives 7725 a right 5228 answer 1697.
27 ¶ Prepare 3559 your work 4399 outside 2351 And make 6257 it ready 6257 for yourself in the field 7704; Afterwards 310, then, build 1129 your house 1004.
28 ¶ Do not be a witness 5707 against your neighbor 7453 without 2600 cause 2600, And do not deceive 6601 with your lips 8193.
29 Do 6213 not say 559, "Thus 3651 I shall do 6213 to him as he has done 6213 to me; I will render 7725 to the man 376 according to his work 6467."
30 ¶ I passed 5674 by the field 7704 of the sluggard 6102 And by the vineyard 3754 of the man 120 lacking 2638 sense 3820,
31 And behold 2009, it was completely 3605 overgrown 5927 with thistles 7057; Its surface 6440 was covered 3680 with nettles 2738, And its stone 68 wall 1447 was broken 2040 down 2040.
32 When I saw 2372, I reflected upon it; I looked 7200, {and} received 3947 instruction 4148.
33 "A little 4592 sleep 8142, a little 4592 slumber 8572, A little 4592 folding 2264 of the hands 3027 to rest 7901,"
34 Then your poverty 7389 will come 935 {as} a robber 1980 And your want 4270 like an armed 4043 man 376.

Chapter 25


1

Similitudes, Instructions

These 428 also 1571 are proverbs 4912 of Solomon 8010 which 834 the men 376 of Hezekiah 2396, king 4428 of Judah 3063, transcribed 6275.
2 ¶ It is the glory 3519 of God 430 to conceal 5641 a matter 1697, But the glory 3519 of kings 4428 is to search 2713 out a matter 1697.
3 {As} the heavens 8064 for height 7312 and the earth 776 for depth 6011, So the heart 3820 of kings 4428 is unsearchable.
4 Take 1898 away 1898 the dross 5509 from the silver 3701, And there comes 3318 out a vessel 3627 for the smith 6884;
5 Take 1898 away 1898 the wicked 7563 before 6440 the king 4428, And his throne 3678 will be established 3559 in righteousness 6664.
6 Do not claim 1921 honor 1921 in the presence 6440 of the king 4428, And do not stand 5975 in the place 4725 of great 1419 men 1419;
7 For it is better 2896 that it be said 559 to you, "Come 5927 up here 2008," Than 4480 for you to be placed 8213 lower 8213 in the presence 6440 of the prince 5081, Whom 834 your eyes 5869 have seen 7200.
8 ¶ Do not go 3318 out hastily 4118 to argue 7378 {your case;} Otherwise 6435, what 4100 will you do 6213 in the end 319, When your neighbor 7453 humiliates 3637 you?
9 Argue 7378 your case 7379 with your neighbor 7453, And do not reveal 1540 the secret 5475 of another 312,
10 Or 6435 he who hears 8085 {it} will reproach 2616 you, And the evil 1681 report 1681 about you will not pass 7725 away 7725.
11 ¶ {Like} apples 8598 of gold 2091 in settings 4906 of silver 3701 Is a word 1697 spoken 1696 in right circumstances 655.
12 {Like} an earring 5141 of gold 2091 and an ornament 2481 of fine 3800 gold 3800 Is a wise 2450 reprover 3198 to a listening 8085 ear 241.
13 Like the cold 6793 of snow 7950 in the time 3117 of harvest 7105 Is a faithful 539 messenger 6735 to those who send 7971 him, For he refreshes 7725 the soul 5315 of his masters 113.
14 {Like} clouds 5387 and wind 7307 without 369 rain 1653 Is a man 376 who boasts 1984 of his gifts 4991 falsely 8267.
15 By forbearance a ruler 7101 may be persuaded 6601, And a soft 7390 tongue 3956 breaks 7665 the bone 1634.
16 Have you found 4672 honey 1706? Eat 398 {only} what 1767 you need 1767, That you not have 7646 it in excess 7646 and vomit 7006 it.
17 Let your foot 7272 rarely 3365 be in your neighbor's 7453 house 1004, Or 6435 he will become 7646 weary 7646 of you and hate 8130 you.
18 {Like} a club 4650 and a sword 2719 and a sharp 8150 arrow 2671 Is a man 376 who bears 6030 false 8267 witness 5707 against his neighbor 7453.
19 {Like} a bad 7489 tooth 8127 and an unsteady 4571 foot 7272 Is confidence 4009 in a faithless 898 man in time 3117 of trouble 6869.
20 {Like} one who takes 5710 off 5710 a garment 899 on a cold 7135 day 3117, {or like} vinegar 2558 on soda 5427, Is he who sings 7891 songs 7892 to a troubled 7451 heart 3820.
21 If 518 your enemy 8130 is hungry 7457, give 398 him food 3899 to eat 398; And if 518 he is thirsty 6771, give 8248 him water 4325 to drink 8248;
22 For you will heap 2846 burning coals 1513 on his head 7218, And the LORD 3068 will reward 7999 you.
23 The north 6828 wind 7307 brings 2342 forth 2342 rain 1653, And a backbiting 5643 tongue 3956, an angry 2194 countenance 6440.
24 It is better 2896 to live 3427 in a corner 6438 of the roof 1406 Than 4480 in a house 1004 shared 2267 with a contentious 4066 woman 802.
25 {Like} cold 7119 water 4325 to a weary 5889 soul 5315, So is good 2896 news 8052 from a distant 4801 land 776.
26 {Like} a trampled 7511 spring 4599 and a polluted 7843 well 4726 Is a righteous 6662 man 6662 who gives 4131 way 4131 before 6440 the wicked 7563.
27 It is not good 2896 to eat 398 much 7235 honey 1706, Nor 3808 is it glory 3519 to search 2714 out one's own glory 3519.
28 {Like} a city 5892 that is broken 6555 into {and} without 369 walls 2346 Is a man 376 who 834 has 369 no 369 control 4623 over his spirit 7307.

Chapter 26


1

Similitudes, Instructions

Like snow 7950 in summer 7019 and like rain 4306 in harvest 7105, So 3651 honor 3519 is not fitting 5000 for a fool 3684.
2 Like a sparrow 6833 in {its} flitting 5110, like a swallow 1866 in {its} flying 5774, So 3651 a curse 7045 without 2600 cause 2600 does not alight 935.
3 A whip 7752 is for the horse 5483, a bridle 4964 for the donkey 2543, And a rod 7626 for the back 1460 of fools 3684.
4 Do not answer 6030 a fool 3684 according to his folly 200, Or 6435 you will also 1571 be like 7737 him.
5 Answer 6030 a fool 3684 as his folly 200 {deserves,} That he not be wise 2450 in his own eyes 5869.
6 He cuts 7096 off 7096 {his own} feet 7272 {and} drinks 8354 violence 2555 Who sends 7971 a message 1697 by the hand 3027 of a fool 3684.
7 {Like} the legs 7785 {which} are useless 1802 to the lame 6455, So is a proverb 4912 in the mouth 6310 of fools 3684.
8 Like one who binds 6887 a stone 68 in a sling 4773, So 3651 is he who gives 5414 honor 3519 to a fool 3684.
9 {Like} a thorn 2336 {which} falls 5927 into the hand 3027 of a drunkard 7910, So is a proverb 4912 in the mouth 6310 of fools 3684.
10 {Like} an archer 7228 who wounds 2342 everyone 3605, So is he who hires 7936 a fool 3684 or who hires 7936 those who pass 5674 by.
11 Like a dog 3611 that returns 7725 to its vomit 6892 Is a fool 3684 who repeats 8138 his folly 200.
12 Do you see 7200 a man 376 wise 2450 in his own eyes 5869? There is more 4480 hope 8615 for a fool 3684 than 4480 for him.
13 The sluggard 6102 says 559, "There is a lion 7826 in the road 1870! A lion 738 is in the open 7339 square 7339!"
14 {As} the door 1817 turns 5437 on its hinges 6735, So {does} the sluggard 6102 on his bed 4296.
15 The sluggard 6102 buries 2934 his hand 3027 in the dish 6747; He is weary 3811 of bringing 7725 it to his mouth 6310 again 7725.
16 The sluggard 6102 is wiser 2450 in his own eyes 5869 Than 4480 seven 7651 men who can give 7725 a discreet 2940 answer 7725.
17 {Like} one who takes 2388 a dog 3611 by the ears 241 Is he who passes 5674 by {and} meddles 5674 with strife 7379 not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman 3858 who throws 3384 Firebrands 2131, arrows 2671 and death 4194,
19 So 3651 is the man 376 who deceives 7411 his neighbor 7453, And says 559, "Was I not joking 7832?"
20 For lack 657 of wood 6086 the fire 784 goes 3518 out, And where there 369 is no 369 whisperer 7279, contention 4066 quiets 8367 down 8367.
21 {Like} charcoal 6352 to hot 1513 embers 1513 and wood 6086 to fire 784, So is a contentious 4066 man 376 to kindle 2787 strife 7379.
22 The words 1697 of a whisperer 7279 are like dainty 3859 morsels 3859, And they go 3381 down 3381 into the innermost 2315 parts 2315 of the body 990.
23 {Like} an earthen 2789 vessel 2789 overlaid 6823 with silver 3701 dross 5509 Are burning 1814 lips 8193 and a wicked 7451 heart 3820.
24 He who hates 8130 disguises 5235 {it} with his lips 8193, But he lays 7896 up deceit 4820 in his heart 7130.
25 When 3588 he speaks 6963 graciously 2603, do not believe 539 him, For there are seven 7651 abominations 8441 in his heart 3820.
26 {Though his} hatred 8135 covers 3680 itself with guile 4860, His wickedness 7463 will be revealed 1540 before the assembly 6951.
27 He who digs 3738 a pit 7845 will fall 5307 into it, And he who rolls 1556 a stone 68, it will come 7725 back 7725 on him.
28 A lying 8267 tongue 3956 hates 8130 those it crushes 1790, And a flattering 2509 mouth 6310 works 6213 ruin 4072.

Chapter 27


1

Warnings and Instructions

Do not boast 1984 about tomorrow 4279, For you do not know 3045 what 4100 a day 3117 may bring 3205 forth 3205.
2 Let another 2114 praise 1984 you, and not your own mouth 6310; A stranger 5237, and not your own lips 8193.
3 A stone 68 is heavy 3514 and the sand 2344 weighty 5192, But the provocation 3708 of a fool 191 is heavier 3515 than 4480 both 8147 of them.
4 Wrath 2534 is fierce 395 and anger 639 is a flood 7858, But who 4310 can stand 5975 before 6440 jealousy 7068?
5 Better 2896 is open 1540 rebuke 8433 Than 4480 love 160 that is concealed 5641.
6 Faithful 539 are the wounds 6482 of a friend 157, But deceitful 6280 are the kisses 5390 of an enemy 8130.
7 A sated 7649 man 5315 loathes 947 honey 5317, But to a famished 7457 man 5315 any 3605 bitter 4751 thing 4751 is sweet 4966.
8 Like a bird 6833 that wanders 5074 from her nest 7064, So 3651 is a man 376 who wanders 5074 from his home 4725.
9 Oil 8081 and perfume 7004 make 8055 the heart 3820 glad 8055, So a man's 5315 counsel 6098 is sweet 4986 to his friend 7453.
10 Do not forsake 5800 your own friend 7453 or your father's 1 friend 7453, And do not go 935 to your brother's 251 house 1004 in the day 3117 of your calamity 343; Better 2896 is a neighbor 7934 who is near 7138 than 4480 a brother 251 far 7350 away.
11 Be wise 2449, my son 1121, and make 8055 my heart 3820 glad 8055, That I may reply to him who reproaches 2778 me.
12 A prudent 6175 man 6175 sees 7200 evil 7463 {and} hides 5641 himself, The naive 6612 proceed 5674 {and} pay 6064 the penalty 6064.
13 Take 3947 his garment 899 when 3588 he becomes 6148 surety 6148 for a stranger 2114; And for an adulterous 5237 woman 5237 hold 2254 him in pledge 2254.
14 He who blesses 1288 his friend 7453 with a loud 1419 voice 6963 early 7925 in the morning 1242, It will be reckoned 2803 a curse 7045 to him.
15 A constant 2956 dripping 1812 on a day 3117 of steady 5464 rain 5464 And a contentious 4066 woman 802 are alike 7737;
16 He who would restrain 6845 her restrains 6845 the wind 7307, And grasps 7121 oil 8081 with his right 3225 hand 3225.
17 Iron 1270 sharpens 2302 iron 1270, So one man 376 sharpens 2302 another.
18 He who tends 5341 the fig 8384 tree 8384 will eat 398 its fruit 6529, And he who cares 8104 for his master 113 will be honored 3513.
19 As in water 4325 face 6440 {reflects} face 6440, So 3651 the heart 3820 of man 120 {reflects} man 120.
20 Sheol 7585 and Abaddon 11 are never 3808 satisfied 7646, Nor 3808 are the eyes 5869 of man 120 ever satisfied 7646.
21 The crucible 4715 is for silver 3701 and the furnace 3564 for gold 2091, And each 376 {is tested} by the praise 4110 accorded 6310 him.
22 Though 518 you pound 3806 a fool 191 in a mortar 4388 with a pestle 5940 along 8432 with crushed 7383 grain 7383, {Yet} his foolishness 200 will not depart 5493 from him.
23 ¶ Know 3045 well 3045 the condition 6440 of your flocks 6629, {And} pay 7896 attention 3820 to your herds 5739;
24 For riches 2633 are not forever 5769, Nor 518 does a crown 5145 {endure} to all 1755 generations 1755.
25 {When} the grass 2682 disappears 1540, the new 1877 growth 1877 is seen 7200, And the herbs 6212 of the mountains 2022 are gathered 622 in,
26 The lambs 3532 {will be} for your clothing 3830, And the goats 6260 {will bring} the price 4242 of a field 7704,
27 And {there will be} goats' 5795 milk 2461 enough 1767 for your food 3899, For the food 3899 of your household 1004, And sustenance 2425 for your maidens 5291.

Chapter 28


1

Warnings and Instructions

The wicked 7563 flee 5127 when no 369 one 369 is pursuing 7291, But the righteous 6662 are bold 982 as a lion 3715.
2 By the transgression 6588 of a land 776 many 7227 are its princes 8269, But by a man 120 of understanding 995 {and} knowledge 3045, so 3651 it endures 748.
3 A poor 7326 man 1397 who oppresses 6231 the lowly 1800 Is {like} a driving 5502 rain 4306 which leaves 369 no 369 food 3899.
4 Those who forsake 5800 the law 8451 praise 1984 the wicked 7563, But those who keep 8104 the law 8451 strive 1624 with them.
5 Evil 7451 men 376 do not understand 995 justice 4941, But those who seek 1245 the LORD 3068 understand 995 all 3605 things 3605.
6 Better 2896 is the poor 7326 who walks 1980 in his integrity 8537 Than 4480 he who is crooked though he be rich 6223.
7 He who keeps 5341 the law 8451 is a discerning 995 son 1121, But he who is a companion 7462 of gluttons 2151 humiliates 3637 his father 1.
8 He who increases 7235 his wealth 1952 by interest 5392 and usury 8636 Gathers 6908 it for him who is gracious 2603 to the poor 1800.
9 He who turns 5493 away 5493 his ear 241 from listening 8085 to the law 8451, Even 1571 his prayer 8605 is an abomination 8441.
10 He who leads 7686 the upright 3477 astray 7686 in an evil 7451 way 1870 Will himself 1931 fall 5307 into his own pit 7816, But the blameless 8549 will inherit 5157 good 2896.
11 The rich 6223 man 376 is wise 2450 in his own eyes 5869, But the poor 1800 who has 995 understanding 995 sees 2713 through 2713 him.
12 When the righteous 6662 triumph 5970, there is great 7227 glory 8597, But when the wicked 7563 rise 6965, men 120 hide 2664 themselves.
13 He who conceals 3680 his transgressions 6588 will not prosper 6743, But he who confesses 3034 and forsakes 5800 {them} will find 7355 compassion 7355.
14 How blessed 835 is the man 120 who fears 6342 always 8548, But he who hardens 7185 his heart 3820 will fall 5307 into calamity 7463.
15 {Like} a roaring 5098 lion 738 and a rushing 8264 bear 1677 Is a wicked 7563 ruler 4910 over 5921 a poor 1800 people 5971.
16 A leader 5057 who is a great 7227 oppressor 4642 lacks 2638 understanding 8394, {But} he who hates 8130 unjust 1215 gain 1215 will prolong 748 {his} days 3117.
17 A man 120 who is laden 6231 with the guilt of human 5315 blood 1818 Will be a fugitive 5127 until 5704 death 953; let no 408 one support 8551 him.
18 He who walks 1980 blamelessly 8549 will be delivered 3467, But he who is crooked will fall 5307 all 259 at once 259.
19 He who tills 5647 his land 127 will have 7646 plenty 7646 of food 3899, But he who follows 7291 empty 7386 {pursuits} will have 7646 poverty 7389 in plenty 7646.
20 A faithful 530 man 376 will abound 7227 with blessings 1293, But he who makes 213 haste 213 to be rich 6238 will not go 5352 unpunished 5352.
21 To show 5234 partiality is not good 2896, Because 5921 for a piece 6595 of bread 3899 a man 1397 will transgress 6586.
22 A man 376 with an evil 7451 eye 5869 hastens 926 after wealth 1952 And does not know 3045 that want 2639 will come 935 upon him.
23 He who rebukes 3198 a man 120 will afterward 318 find 4672 {more} favor 2580 Than 4480 he who flatters 2505 with the tongue 3956.
24 He who robs 1497 his father 1 or his mother 517 And says 559, "It is not a transgression 6588," Is the companion 2270 of a man 376 who destroys 7843.
25 An arrogant 7342 man stirs 1624 up strife 4066, But he who trusts 982 in the LORD 3068 will prosper 1878.
26 He who trusts 982 in his own heart 3820 is a fool 3684, But he who walks 1980 wisely 2451 will be delivered 4422.
27 He who gives 5414 to the poor 7326 will never 369 want 4270, But he who shuts 5956 his eyes 5869 will have many 7227 curses 3994.
28 When the wicked 7563 rise 6965, men 120 hide 5641 themselves; But when they perish 6, the righteous 6662 increase 7235.

Chapter 29


1

Warnings and Instructions

A man 376 who hardens 7185 {his} neck 6203 after much reproof 8433 Will suddenly 6621 be broken 7665 beyond 369 remedy 4832.
2 When the righteous 6662 increase 7235, the people 5971 rejoice 8055, But when a wicked 7563 man 7563 rules 4910, people 5971 groan 584.
3 A man 376 who loves 157 wisdom 2451 makes 8055 his father 1 glad 8055, But he who keeps 7462 company 7462 with harlots 2181 wastes 6 {his} wealth 1952.
4 The king 4428 gives 5975 stability 5975 to the land 776 by justice 4941, But a man 376 who 8641 takes 8641 bribes 8641 overthrows 2040 it.
5 A man 1397 who flatters 2505 his neighbor 7453 Is spreading 6566 a net 7568 for his steps 6471.
6 By transgression 6588 an evil 7451 man 376 is ensnared 4170, But the righteous 6662 sings 7442 and rejoices 8055.
7 The righteous 6662 is concerned 3045 for the rights 1779 of the poor 1800, The wicked 7563 does not understand 995 {such} concern 1847.
8 Scorners set 6315 a city 7151 aflame 6315, But wise 2450 men 2450 turn 7725 away 7725 anger 639.
9 When a wise 2450 man 376 has 8199 a controversy 8199 with a foolish 191 man 376, The foolish man either rages 7264 or laughs 7832, and there 369 is no 369 rest 5183.
10 Men 376 of bloodshed 1818 hate 8130 the blameless 8535, But the upright 3477 are concerned 1245 for his life 5315.
11 A fool 3684 always loses 3318 his temper 7307, But a wise 2450 man 2450 holds 7623 it back 268.
12 If a ruler 4910 pays 7181 attention 7181 to falsehood 8267, All 3605 his ministers 8334 {become} wicked 7563.
13 The poor 7326 man 376 and the oppressor have 6298 this 6298 in common 6298: The LORD 3068 gives 215 light 215 to the eyes 5869 of both 8147.
14 If a king 4428 judges 8199 the poor 1800 with truth 571, His throne 3678 will be established 3559 forever 5703.
15 The rod 7626 and reproof 8433 give 5414 wisdom 2451, But a child 5288 who gets 7971 his own way 7971 brings 954 shame 954 to his mother 517.
16 When the wicked 7563 increase 7235, transgression 6588 increases 7235; But the righteous 6662 will see 7200 their fall 4658.
17 Correct 3256 your son 1121, and he will give 5117 you comfort 5117; He will also delight 4574 your soul 5315.
18 Where there 369 is no 369 vision 2377, the people 5971 are unrestrained 6544, But happy 835 is he who keeps 8104 the law 8451.
19 A slave 5650 will not be instructed 3256 by words 1697 {alone;} For though he understands 995, there 369 will be no 369 response 4617.
20 Do you see 2372 a man 376 who is hasty 213 in his words 1697? There is more 4480 hope 8615 for a fool 3684 than 4480 for him.
21 He who pampers 6445 his slave 5650 from childhood 5290 Will in the end 319 find him to be a son 4497.
22 An angry 639 man 376 stirs 1624 up strife 4066, And a hot-tempered 2534 man 1167 abounds 7227 in transgression 6588.
23 A man's 120 pride 1346 will bring 8213 him low 8213, But a humble 8217 spirit 7307 will obtain 8551 honor 3519.
24 He who is a partner 2505 with a thief 1590 hates 8130 his own life 5315; He hears 8085 the oath 423 but tells 5046 nothing 3808.
25 The fear 2731 of man 120 brings 5414 a snare 4170, But he who trusts 982 in the LORD 3068 will be exalted 7682.
26 Many 7227 seek 1245 the ruler's 4910 favor 6440, But justice 4941 for man 376 {comes} from the LORD 3068.
27 An unjust 5766 man 376 is abominable 8441 to the righteous 6662, And he who 3477 is upright 3477 in the way 1870 is abominable 8441 to the wicked 7563.

Chapter 30


1

The Words of Agur

The words 1697 of Agur 94 the son 1121 of Jakeh 3348, the oracle 4853.
2 ¶ Surely 3588 I am more 4480 stupid 1198 than 4480 any 376 man 376, And I do not have the understanding 998 of a man 120.
3 Neither 3808 have I learned 3925 wisdom 2451, Nor 3808 do I have 3045 the knowledge 1847 of the Holy 6918 One 6918.
4 Who 4310 has ascended 5927 into heaven 8064 and descended 3381? Who 4310 has gathered 622 the wind 7307 in His fists 2651? Who 4310 has wrapped 6887 the waters 4325 in His garment 8071? Who 4310 has established 6965 all 3605 the ends 657 of the earth 776? What 4100 is His name 8034 or His son's 1121 name 8034? Surely 3588 you know 3045!
5 ¶ Every 3605 word 565 of God 433 is tested 6884; He is a shield 4043 to those who take 2620 refuge 2620 in Him.
6 Do not add 3254 to His words 1697 Or 6435 He will reprove 3198 you, and you will be proved 3576 a liar 3576.
7 ¶ Two 8147 things 8147 I asked 7592 of You, Do not refuse 4513 me before 2962 I die 4191:
8 Keep 7368 deception 7723 and lies 3577 far 7368 from me, Give 5414 me neither 408 poverty 7389 nor 408 riches 6239; Feed 2963 me with the food 3899 that is my portion 2706,
9 That I not be full 7646 and deny 3584 {You} and say 559, "Who 4310 is the LORD 3068?" Or that I not be in want 3423 and steal 1589, And profane 8610 the name 8034 of my God 430.
10 ¶ Do not slander 3960 a slave 5650 to his master 113, Or 6435 he will curse 7043 you and you will be found 816 guilty 816.
11 ¶ There is a kind 1755 of {man} who curses 7043 his father 1 And does not bless 1288 his mother 517.
12 There is a kind 1755 who is pure 2889 in his own eyes 5869, Yet is not washed 7364 from his filthiness 6675.
13 There is a kind 1755--oh how 4100 lofty 7311 are his eyes 5869! And his eyelids 6079 are raised 5375 {in arrogance.}
14 There is a kind 1755 of {man} whose teeth 8127 are {like} swords 2719 And his jaw 4973 teeth 4973 {like} knives 3979, To devour 398 the afflicted 6041 from the earth 776 And the needy 34 from among men 120.
15 ¶ The leech 5936 has two 8147 daughters 1323, "Give 3051," "Give 3051." There 1992 are three 7969 things 7969 that will not be satisfied 7646, Four 702 that will not say 559, "Enough 1952":
16 Sheol 7585, and the barren 6115 womb 7358, Earth 776 that is never 3808 satisfied 7646 with water 4325, And fire 784 that never 3808 says 559, "Enough 1952."
17 The eye 5869 that mocks 3932 a father 1 And scorns a mother 517, The ravens 6158 of the valley 5158 will pick 5365 it out, And the young 1121 eagles 5404 will eat 398 it.
18 ¶ There 1992 are three 7969 things 7969 which are too 4480 wonderful 6381 for me, Four 702 which I do not understand 3045:
19 The way 1870 of an eagle 5404 in the sky 8064, The way 1870 of a serpent 5175 on a rock 6697, The way 1870 of a ship 591 in the middle 3820 of the sea 3220, And the way 1870 of a man 1397 with a maid 5959.
20 This 3651 is the way 1870 of an adulterous 5003 woman 802: She eats 398 and wipes 4229 her mouth 6310, And says 559, "I have done 6466 no 3808 wrong 205."
21 ¶ Under 8478 three 7969 things 7969 the earth 776 quakes 7264, And under 8478 four 702, it cannot bear 5375 up:
22 Under 8478 a slave 5650 when 3588 he becomes 4427 king 4427, And a fool 5036 when 3588 he is satisfied 7646 with food 3899,
23 Under 8478 an unloved 8130 woman when 3588 she gets 1166 a husband 1166, And a maidservant 8198 when 3588 she supplants 3423 her mistress 1404.
24 ¶ Four 702 things 702 are small 6996 on the earth 776, But they are exceedingly 2449 wise 2450:
25 The ants 5244 are not a strong 5794 people 5971, But they prepare 3559 their food 3899 in the summer 7019;
26 The shephanim 8227 are not mighty 6099 people 5971, Yet they make 7760 their houses 1004 in the rocks 5553;
27 The locusts 697 have 369 no 369 king 4428, Yet all 3605 of them go 3318 out in ranks 2686;
28 The lizard 8079 you may grasp 8610 with the hands 3027, Yet it is in kings' 4428 palaces 1964.
29 ¶ There 1992 are three 7969 things 7969 which are stately 3190 in {their} march 6806, Even four 702 which are stately 3190 when they walk 1980:
30 The lion 3918 {which} is mighty 1368 among beasts 929 And does not retreat 7725 before any 3605,
31 The strutting rooster 4975, the male 8495 goat 8495 also 176, And a king 4428 {when his} army 510 is with him.
32 ¶ If 518 you have been 5034 foolish 5034 in exalting 5375 yourself Or if 518 you have plotted 2161 {evil,} {put your} hand 3027 on your mouth 6310.
33 For the churning 4330 of milk 2461 produces 3318 butter 2529, And pressing 4330 the nose 639 brings 3318 forth 3318 blood 1818; So the churning 4330 of anger 639 produces 3318 strife 7379.

Chapter 31


1

The Words of Lemuel

The words 1697 of King 4428 Lemuel 3927, the oracle 4853 which 834 his mother 517 taught 3256 him:
2 ¶ What 4100, O my son 1248? And what 4100, O son 1248 of my womb 990? And what 4100, O son 1248 of my vows 5088?
3 Do not give 5414 your strength 2428 to women 802, Or your ways 1870 to that which destroys 4229 kings 4428.
4 It is not for kings 4428, O Lemuel 3927, It is not for kings 4428 to drink 7941 wine 3196, Or for rulers 7336 to desire 177 strong 7941 drink 8354,
5 For they will drink 8354 and forget 7911 what is decreed 2710, And pervert 8132 the rights 1779 of all 3605 the afflicted.
6 Give 5414 strong 7941 drink 7941 to him who is perishing 6, And wine 3196 to him whose life 5315 is bitter 4751.
7 Let him drink 8354 and forget 7911 his poverty 7389 And remember 2142 his trouble 5999 no 3808 more 5750.
8 Open 6605 your mouth 6310 for the mute 483, For the rights 1779 of all 3605 the unfortunate.
9 Open 6605 your mouth 6310, judge 8199 righteously 6664, And defend 1777 the rights 1779 of the afflicted 6041 and needy 34.
10

Description of a Worthy Woman

¶ An excellent 2428 wife 802, who 4310 can find 4672? For her worth 4377 is far 7350 above 4480 jewels 6443.
11 The heart 3820 of her husband 1167 trusts 982 in her, And he will have 2637 no 3808 lack 2637 of gain 7998.
12 She does 1580 him good 2896 and not evil 7451 All 3605 the days 3117 of her life 2425.
13 She looks 1875 for wool 6785 and flax 6593 And works 6213 with her hands 3709 in delight 2656.
14 She is like merchant 5503 ships 591; She brings 935 her food 3899 from afar 4801.
15 She rises 6965 also while it is still 5750 night 3915 And gives 5414 food 2964 to her household 1004 And portions 2706 to her maidens 5291.
16 She considers 2161 a field 7704 and buys 3947 it; From her earnings she plants 5193 a vineyard 3754.
17 She girds 2296 herself 4975 with strength 5797 And makes 553 her arms 2220 strong 553.
18 She senses 2938 that her gain 5504 is good 2896; Her lamp 5216 does not go 3518 out at night 3915.
19 She stretches 7971 out her hands 3027 to the distaff 3601, And her hands 3709 grasp 8551 the spindle 6418.
20 She extends 6566 her hand 3027 to the poor 6041, And she stretches 7971 out her hands 3027 to the needy 34.
21 She is not afraid 3372 of the snow 7950 for her household 1004, For all 3605 her household 1004 are clothed 3847 with scarlet 8144.
22 She makes 6213 coverings 4765 for herself; Her clothing 3830 is fine 8336 linen 8336 and purple 713.
23 Her husband 1167 is known 3045 in the gates 8179, When he sits 3427 among 5973 the elders 2205 of the land 776.
24 She makes 6213 linen 5466 garments 5466 and sells 4376 {them,} And supplies 5414 belts 2290 to the tradesmen 3667.
25 Strength 5797 and dignity 1926 are her clothing 3830, And she smiles 7832 at the future.
26 She opens 6605 her mouth 6310 in wisdom 2451, And the teaching 8451 of kindness 2617 is on her tongue 3956.
27 She looks 6822 well 6822 to the ways 1979 of her household 1004, And does not eat 398 the bread 3899 of idleness 6104.
28 Her children 1121 rise 6965 up and bless 833 her; Her husband 1167 {also,} and he praises 1984 her, {saying:}
29 "Many 7227 daughters 1323 have done 6213 nobly 2428, But you excel 5927 them all 3605."
30 Charm 2580 is deceitful 8267 and beauty 3308 is vain 1892, {But} a woman 802 who fears 3372 the LORD 3068, she shall be praised 1984.
31 Give 5414 her the product 6529 of her hands 3027, And let her works 4639 praise 1984 her in the gates 8179.