Add parallel Print Page Options

22 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.

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

A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.

Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.

Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.

He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.

15 Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] only to want.

17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.

19 That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,

21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;

23 for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;

25 lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:

27 if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

29 Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.

23 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider well who is before thee;

and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

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

Weary not thyself to become rich; cease from thine own intelligence:

wilt thou set thine eyes upon it, it is gone; for indeed it maketh itself wings and it flieth away as an eagle towards the heavens.

Eat thou not the food of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties.

For as he thinketh in his soul, so is he. Eat and drink! will he say unto thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Thy morsel which thou hast eaten must thou vomit up, and thou wilt have wasted thy sweet words.

Speak not in the ears of a foolish [man], for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10 Remove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11 for their redeemer is mighty; he will plead their cause against thee.

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

13 Withhold not correction from the child; for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die:

14 thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if thy heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine;

16 and my reins shall exult, when thy lips speak right things.

17 Let not thy heart envy sinners, but [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day;

18 for surely there is a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way.

20 Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness clotheth with rags.

22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence.

24 The father of a righteous [man] shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise [son] shall have joy of him:

25 let thy father and thy mother have joy, and let her that bore thee rejoice.

26 My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28 She also lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men.

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

30 —They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to try mixed wine.

31 Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly:

32 at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall speak froward things;

34 and thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, and as he that lieth down upon the top of a mast:

35 —''They have smitten me, [and] I am not sore; they have beaten me, [and] I knew it not. When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.''

24 Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

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

and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.

A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.

The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 [If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.

11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:

14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.

16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;

18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:

20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;

25 but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.

26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;

31 and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:

33 —A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!

34 So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.(B)

The prudent see danger and take refuge,(C)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(D)

Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(E) and life.(F)

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(G)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

Start(H) children off on the way they should go,(I)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(J)

The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(K)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(L)

The generous will themselves be blessed,(M)
    for they share their food with the poor.(N)

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(O)

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(P)

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(Q)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(R)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(S)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(T)

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(U) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(V)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(W)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(X)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(Y) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(Z)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(AA)
    and will exact life for life.(AB)

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared.(AC)

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(AD)
    or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you.(AE)

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(AF)
    set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled(AG) in their work?
    They will serve(AH) before kings;(AI)
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Saying 7

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what[a] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,(AJ)
    for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,(AK)
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(AL)

Saying 9

Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;(AM)
for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.(AN)

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone(AO)
    or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender(AP) is strong;(AQ)
    he will take up their case against you.(AR)

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction(AS)
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(AT)

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.(AU)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(AV) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(AW)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(AX) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(AY)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(AZ)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(BA)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(BB)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(BC)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(BD)

Saying 18

26 My son,(BE) give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,(BF)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,(BG)
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait(BH)
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,(BI)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”(BJ)

Saying 20

24 Do not envy(BK) the wicked,
    do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,(BL)
    and their lips talk about making trouble.(BM)

Saying 21

By wisdom a house is built,(BN)
    and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.(BO)

Saying 22

The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
Surely you need guidance to wage war,
    and victory is won through many advisers.(BP)

Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

Saying 24

Whoever plots evil
    will be known as a schemer.
The schemes of folly are sin,
    and people detest a mocker.

Saying 25

10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
    how small is your strength!(BQ)
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.(BR)
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs(BS) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay(BT) everyone according to what they have done?(BU)

Saying 26

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(BV)

Saying 27

15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
    do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.(BW)

Saying 28

17 Do not gloat(BX) when your enemy falls;
    when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,(BY)
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
    and turn his wrath away from them.(BZ)

Saying 29

19 Do not fret(CA) because of evildoers
    or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
    and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.(CB)

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(CC) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(CD) on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:(CE)

To show partiality(CF) in judging is not good:(CG)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(CH)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Put your outdoor work in order
    and get your fields ready;
    after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause(CI)
    would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
    I’ll pay them back for what they did.”(CJ)

30 I went past the field of a sluggard,(CK)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(CL)
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.(CM)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
  2. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is