Proverbs 29-31
New International Reader's Version
29 Whoever still won’t obey after being warned many times
will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save them.
2 When those who do right grow stronger, the people are glad.
But when those who do wrong become rulers, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad.
But a man who spends time with prostitutes wastes his father’s wealth.
4 By doing what is fair, a king makes a country secure.
But those who only want money tear it down.
5 Those who only pretend to praise their neighbors
are spreading a net to catch them by the feet.
6 Sinful people are trapped by their own sin.
But godly people shout for joy and are glad.
7 Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly.
But those who do what is wrong don’t care about the poor.
8 Those who make fun of others stir up a city.
But wise people turn anger away.
9 Suppose a wise person goes to court with a foolish person.
Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun, and there is no peace.
10 Murderers hate honest people.
They try to kill those who do what is right.
11 Foolish people let their anger run wild.
But wise people keep themselves under control.
12 If rulers listen to lies,
all their officials become evil.
13 The Lord gives sight to the eyes of poor people and those who treat others badly.
That’s what they both have in common.
14 If a king judges poor people fairly,
his throne will always be secure.
15 If a child is corrected, they become wise.
But a child who is not corrected brings shame to their mother.
16 When those who do wrong grow stronger, so does sin.
But those who do right will see them destroyed.
17 If you correct your children, they will give you peace.
They will bring you the delights you desire.
18 Where there is no message from God, people don’t control themselves.
But blessed is the one who obeys wisdom’s instruction.
19 Servants can’t be corrected only by words.
Even if they understand, they won’t obey.
20 Have you seen someone who speaks without thinking?
There is more hope for foolish people than for that person.
21 A servant who has been spoiled from youth
will have no respect for you later on.
22 An angry person stirs up fights.
And a person with a bad temper commits many sins.
23 Pride brings a person low.
But those whose spirits are low will be honored.
24 To help a thief is to become your own enemy.
When you go to court, you won’t dare to say anything.
25 If you are afraid of people, it will trap you.
But if you trust in the Lord, he will keep you safe.
26 Many people want to meet a ruler.
But only the Lord sees that people are treated fairly.
27 Those who do what is right hate dishonest people.
Those who do what is wrong hate honest people.
The Sayings of Agur
30 These sayings are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. These sayings came from God.
This man said to Ithiel:
“I am weary, God.
But I can still have success.
2 Surely I am only a dumb animal and not a man.
I don’t understand as other men do.
3 I haven’t learned wisdom.
And I don’t know the things the Holy One knows.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a coat?
Who has set in place all the boundaries of the earth?
What is his name? What is his son’s name?
Surely you know!
5 “Every word of God is perfect.
He is like a shield to those who trust in him.
He keeps them safe.
6 Don’t add to his words.
If you do, he will correct you.
He will prove that you are a liar.
7 “Lord, I ask you for two things.
Don’t refuse me before I die.
8 Keep lies far away from me.
Don’t make me either poor or rich,
but give me only the bread I need each day.
9 If you don’t, I might have too much.
Then I might say I don’t know you.
I might say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I might become poor and steal.
Then I would bring shame to the name of my God.
10 “Don’t tell lies about a servant when you talk to their master.
If you do, they will curse you, and you will pay for your lies.
11 “Some people curse their fathers.
Others don’t bless their mothers.
12 Some are pure in their own eyes.
But their dirty sins haven’t been washed away.
13 Some have eyes that are very proud.
They look down on others.
14 Some people have teeth like swords.
The teeth in their jaws are as sharp as knives.
They are ready to eat up the poor people of the earth.
They are ready to eat up those who are the most needy.
15 “A leech has two daughters.
They cry out, ‘Give! Give!’
“Three things are never satisfied.
Four things never say, ‘Enough!’
16 The first is the grave.
The second is a woman who can’t have a baby.
The third is land, which never gets enough water.
And the fourth is fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
17 “One person makes fun of their father.
Another doesn’t honor their mother when she is old.
The ravens of the valley will peck out their eyes.
Then the vultures will eat them.
18 “Three things are too amazing for me.
There are four things I don’t understand.
19 The first is the way of an eagle in the sky.
The second is the way of a snake on a rock.
The third is the way of a ship on the ocean.
And the fourth is the way of a man with a young woman.
20 “This is the way of a woman who commits adultery.
She eats and wipes her mouth.
Then she says, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’
21 “Under three things the earth shakes.
Under four things it can’t stand up.
22 The first is a servant who becomes a king.
The second is a foolish and ungodly person who gets plenty to eat.
23 The third is a mean woman who gets married.
And the fourth is a servant who takes the place of the woman she works for.
24 “Four things on earth are small.
But they are very wise.
25 The first are ants, which aren’t very strong.
But they store up their food in the summer.
26 The second are hyraxes, which aren’t very powerful.
But they make their home among the rocks.
27 The third are locusts, which don’t have a king.
But they all march forward in ranks.
28 And the fourth are lizards, which your hand can catch.
But you will find them in kings’ palaces.
29 “Three things walk as if they were kings.
Four things move as kings do.
30 The first is a lion, which is mighty among the animals. It doesn’t back away from anything.
31 The second is a rooster, which walks proudly.
The third is a billy goat.
And the fourth is a king, who is secure against any who might oppose him.
32 “Do you do foolish things?
Do you think you are better than others?
Do you plan evil?
If you do, put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!
33 If you churn cream, you will produce butter.
If you twist a nose, you will produce blood.
And if you stir up anger, you will produce a fight.”
The Sayings of King Lemuel
31 These are the sayings of King Lemuel. His mother taught them to him. These sayings came from God.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, my very own son!
Listen, you who are the answer to my prayers!
3 Don’t waste your strength on women.
Don’t waste it on those who destroy kings.
4 Lemuel, it isn’t good for kings to drink wine.
It isn’t good for rulers to long for beer.
5 If they do, they might drink and forget what has been commanded.
They might take away the rights of all those who are treated badly.
6 Let beer be for those who are dying.
Let wine be for those who are sad and troubled.
7 Let them drink and forget how poor they are.
Let them forget their suffering.
8 Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.
9 Speak up and judge fairly.
Speak up for the rights of those who are poor and needy.
The Excellent Woman
10 Who can find an excellent woman?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband trusts her completely.
She gives him all the important things he needs.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She chooses wool and flax.
She loves to work with her hands.
14 She is like the ships of traders.
She brings her food from far away.
15 She gets up while it is still night.
She provides food for her family.
She also gives some to her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it.
She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.
17 She gets ready to work hard.
Her arms are strong.
18 She sees that her trading earns a lot of money.
Her lamp doesn’t go out at night.
19 With one hand she holds the wool.
With the other she spins the thread.
20 She opens her arms to those who are poor.
She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.
21 When it snows, she’s not afraid for her family.
All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.
22 She makes her own bed coverings.
She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate.
There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes and sells them.
She supplies belts to the traders.
25 She puts on strength and honor as if they were her clothes.
She can laugh at the days that are coming.
26 She speaks wisely.
She teaches faithfully.
27 She watches over family matters.
She is busy all the time.
28 Her children stand up and call her blessed.
Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.
29 He says, “Many women do excellent things.
But you are better than all the others.”
30 Charm can fool you. Beauty fades.
But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her honor for all that her hands have done.
Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.
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