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Proverbs 29-31
New International Reader's Version
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.
Proverbs 29-31
New International Version
Proverbs 29-31
New International Version
29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(A) after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed(B)—without remedy.(C)
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(G)
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(H)
4 By justice a king gives a country stability,(I)
but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.
5 Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.(J)
6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,(K)
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,(L)
but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.(M)
9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.(N)
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.(S)
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.(T)
15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(U)
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.(V)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.(W)
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(X)
19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.
20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(Y)
21 A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.
22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(Z)
24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.(AC)
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.(AI)
Sayings of Agur
30 The sayings(AJ) of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.
This man’s utterance to Ithiel:
“I am weary, God,
but I can prevail.[b]
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.(AK)
4 Who has gone up(AL) to heaven and come down?
Whose hands(AM) have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters(AN) in a cloak?(AO)
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name,(AP) and what is the name of his son?
Surely you know!
5 “Every word of God is flawless;(AQ)
he is a shield(AR) to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add(AS) to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.(AT)
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown(AU) you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’(AV)
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.(AW)
10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11 “There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers;(AX)
12 those who are pure in their own eyes(AY)
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;(AZ)
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,(BA)
whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth(BB) are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives(BC)
to devour(BD) the poor(BE) from the earth
and the needy from among mankind.(BF)
15 “The leech has two daughters.
‘Give! Give!’ they cry.
“There are three things that are never satisfied,(BG)
four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 the grave,(BH) the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
17 “The eye that mocks(BI) a father,
that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
will be eaten by the vultures.(BJ)
18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’(BK)
21 “Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,(BL)
a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married,
and a servant who displaces her mistress.
24 “Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;(BM)
26 hyraxes(BN) are creatures of little power,
yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts(BO) have no king,
yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
and a king secure against revolt.[c]
32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
or if you plan evil,
clap your hand over your mouth!(BP)
33 For as churning cream produces butter,
and as twisting the nose produces blood,
so stirring up anger produces strife.”
Sayings of King Lemuel
31 The sayings(BQ) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!(BR)
3 Do not spend your strength[d] on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.(BS)
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,(BT)
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink(BU) and forget what has been decreed,(BV)
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine(BW) for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink(BX) and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 Speak(BY) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.(BZ)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [e]A wife of noble character(CA) who can find?(CB)
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband(CC) has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.(CD)
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.(CE)
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.(CF)
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders(CG) of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.(CH)
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise(CI) at the city gate.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who give
- Proverbs 30:1 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text utterance to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and Ukal:
- Proverbs 30:31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Proverbs 31:3 Or wealth
- Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.