Proverbs 1:1-7
New King James Version
The Beginning of Knowledge
1 The (A)proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the (B)simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 (C)A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (D)riddles.
7 (E)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:2 understand or discern
- Proverbs 1:5 acquire
Proverbs 20-31
New King James Version
Wine Is a Mocker
20 Wine (A)is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The [a]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 (B)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim each his own [b]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9 (G)Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 (H)Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is (I)known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
12 (J)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.
13 (K)Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is [c]good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But (L)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (M)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 (N)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
19 (Q)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one (R)who flatters with his lips.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?
25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.
26 (Y)A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And (AB)the splendor of old men is their gray head.
30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the [g]inner depths of the heart.
The Lord Considers the Heart
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the [h]rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
3 (AE)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
5 (AG)The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will [k]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of [l]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with (AI)a contentious woman.
10 (AJ)The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;
But when the (AK)wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,
Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
13 (AL)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [m]behind the back, strong wrath.
15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the (AM)dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,
And the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to dwell [n]in the wilderness,
Than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 (AN)There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
21 (AO)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
23 (AQ)Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.
25 The (AR)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all day long,
But the righteous (AS)gives and does not spare.
27 (AT)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
28 A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face,
But as for the upright, he [p]establishes his way.
30 (AU)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (AV)deliverance is of the Lord.
The Value of a Good Name
22 A (AW)good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are (AZ)punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.
7 The (BB)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
10 (BF)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 (BG)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
13 (BH)The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”
14 (BI)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
(BJ)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
(BK)The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Sayings of the Wise
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 (BL)That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
(BM)That you may answer words of truth
To those who [t]send to you?
22 Do not rob the (BN)poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 (BO)For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a (BP)furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
26 (BQ)Do not be one of those who [u]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is [v]surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?
29 Do you see a man who [x]excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before [y]unknown men.
Listen to Your Father
23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food.
4 (BS)Do not overwork to be rich;
(BT)Because of your own understanding, cease!
5 [z]Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
6 Do not eat the bread of (BU)a[aa] miser,
Nor desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Eat and drink!” (BV)he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.
8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up,
And waste your pleasant words.
9 (BW)Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not remove the ancient [ab]landmark,
Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;
11 (BX)For their Redeemer is mighty;
He will plead their cause against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction,
And your ears to words of knowledge.
13 (BY)Do not withhold correction from a child,
For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 You shall beat him with a rod,
And deliver his soul from [ac]hell.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;
16 Yes, my [ad]inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.
17 (BZ)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But (CA)be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
18 (CB)For surely there is a [ae]hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.
20 (CC)Do not mix with winebibbers,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
22 (CD)Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 (CE)Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 (CF)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart,
And let your eyes observe my ways.
27 (CG)For a harlot is a deep pit,
And a seductress is a narrow well.
28 (CH)She also lies in wait as for a victim,
And increases the unfaithful among men.
29 (CI)Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who (CJ)has redness of eyes?
30 (CK)Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of (CL)mixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it [af]swirls around smoothly;
32 At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the [ag]midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
35 “They(CM) have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall (CN)I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
Do Not Envy Evil Men
24 Do not be (CO)envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
2 For their heart devises violence,
And their lips talk of troublemaking.
3 Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5 (CP)A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
6 (CQ)For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
7 (CR)Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 He who (CS)plots to do evil
Will be called a [ah]schemer.
9 The devising of foolishness is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 If you (CT)faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.
11 (CU)Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
Does not (CV)He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man (CW)according to his deeds?
13 My son, (CX)eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 (CY)So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a [ai]prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
16 (CZ)For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
(DA)But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
17 (DB)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Lest the Lord see it, and [aj]it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.
19 (DC)Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, (DD)fear the Lord and the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These things also belong to the wise:
(DE)It is not good to [ak]show partiality in judgment.
24 (DF)He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have (DG)delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
27 (DH)Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house.
28 (DI)Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
[al]For would you deceive with your lips?
29 (DJ)Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
30 I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was, (DK)all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
33 (DL)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 (DM)So shall your poverty come like [am]a prowler,
And your need like [an]an armed man.
Further Wise Sayings of Solomon
25 These(DN) also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
2 (DO)It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 (DP)Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in (DQ)righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of the great;
7 (DR)For it is better that he say to you,
“Come up here,”
Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.
8 (DS)Do not go hastily to [ao]court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?
9 (DT)Debate your case with your neighbor,
And do not disclose the secret to another;
10 Lest he who hears it expose your shame,
And [ap]your reputation be ruined.
11 A word fitly (DU)spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.
13 (DV)Like the cold of snow in time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
15 (DY)By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
16 Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18 (DZ)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.
20 Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who (EA)sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 (EB)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
(EC)And the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And (ED)a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 (EE)It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 As cold water to a weary soul,
So is (EF)good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked
Is like a murky spring and a [aq]polluted well.
27 It is not good to eat much honey;
So (EG)to seek one’s own glory is not glory.
28 (EH)Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.
Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool
26 As snow in summer (EI)and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So (EJ)a curse without cause shall not alight.
3 (EK)A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 (EL)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [ar]The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
11 (EM)As a dog returns to his own vomit,
(EN)So a fool repeats his folly.
12 (EO)Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the [as]streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
15 The (EP)lazy man buries his hand in the [at]bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, (EQ)“I was only joking!”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no [au]talebearer, strife ceases.
21 (ER)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a [av]talebearer are like [aw]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [ax]inmost body.
23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
25 (ES)When [ay]he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 (ET)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works (EU)ruin.
My Son, Be Wise
27 Do(EV) not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 (EW)Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent,
But (EX)who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 (EY)Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are (EZ)deceitful.
7 A satisfied soul [az]loathes the honeycomb,
But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest
Is a man who wanders from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by [ba]hearty counsel.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
(FA)Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
(FB)That I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself;
The simple pass on and are (FC)punished.
13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
It will be counted a curse to him.
15 A (FD)continual dripping on a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike;
16 Whoever [bb]restrains her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 (FE)Whoever [bc]keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face,
So a man’s heart reveals the man.
21 (FH)The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him.
22 (FI)Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of your (FJ)flocks,
And attend to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25 (FK)When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26 The lambs will provide your clothing,
And the goats the price of a field;
27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.
The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion
28 The (FL)wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
(FR)Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 (FS)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
(FT)But the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great (FU)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men [bg]hide themselves.
13 (FV)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great (FY)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
17 (FZ)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be [bh]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (GA)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
(GB)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that (GE)poverty will come upon him.
23 (GF)He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same (GG)is companion to a destroyer.
25 (GH)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
(GI)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
26 He who (GJ)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
27 (GK)He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked arise, (GL)men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law
29 He(GM) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous [bj]are in authority, the (GN)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (GO)the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who (GP)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.
6 By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7 The righteous (GQ)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers (GR)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
(GS)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
(GV)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 The king who judges the (GW)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give (GX)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their (GY)fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18 (GZ)Where there is no [bm]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (HA)happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
(HB)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.
22 (HC)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 (HD)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
(HE)He [bn]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
The Wisdom of Agur
30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 (HH)Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have the understanding of a man.
3 I neither learned wisdom
Nor have (HI)knowledge of the Holy One.
4 (HJ)Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
(HK)Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?
5 (HL)Every word of God is [bq]pure;
(HM)He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
6 (HN)Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):
8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
(HO)Feed me with the food allotted to me;
9 (HP)Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
10 Do not malign a servant to his master,
Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curses its (HQ)father,
And does not bless its mother.
12 There is a generation (HR)that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
13 There is a generation—oh, how (HS)lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are [br]lifted up.
14 (HT)There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
(HU)To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.
15 The leech has two daughters—
Give and Give!
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, “Enough!”:
16 (HV)The[bs] grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water—
And the fire never says, “Enough!”
17 (HW)The eye that mocks his father,
And scorns obedience to his mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the [bt]midst of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wickedness.”
21 For three things the earth is perturbed,
Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
22 (HX)For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,
23 A [bu]hateful woman when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.
24 There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25 (HY)The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 (HZ)The [bv]rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;
28 The [bw]spider skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things which are majestic in pace,
Yes, four which are stately in walk:
30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts
And does not turn away from any;
31 A [bx]greyhound,
A male goat also,
And [by]a king whose troops are with him.
32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have devised evil, (IA)put your hand on your mouth.
33 For as the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood,
So the forcing of wrath produces strife.
The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother
31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, (IB)son of my vows?
3 (IC)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways (ID)to that which destroys kings.
4 (IE)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
5 (IF)Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all [bz]the afflicted.
6 (IG)Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
8 (IH)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are [ca]appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, (II)judge righteously,
And (IJ)plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtuous Wife
10 (IK)Who[cb] can find a [cc]virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 (IL)She also rises while it is yet night,
And (IM)provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [cd]her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 (IN)She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 (IO)Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:2 Lit. fear or terror, produced by the king’s wrath
- Proverbs 20:6 Lit. mercy
- Proverbs 20:14 Lit. evil, evil
- Proverbs 20:22 repay
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 20:28 mercy
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 21:1 channels
- Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp
- Proverbs 21:6 LXX Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vg. Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Tg. They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death
- Proverbs 21:7 Lit. drag them away
- Proverbs 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange;
- Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom
- Proverbs 21:19 Lit. in the land of the desert
- Proverbs 21:22 Climbs over the walls of
- Proverbs 21:29 Qr., LXX understands
- Proverbs 22:6 Even
- Proverbs 22:8 trouble
- Proverbs 22:9 Lit. good
- Proverbs 22:21 Or send you
- Proverbs 22:26 Lit. strikes
- Proverbs 22:26 guaranty
- Proverbs 22:28 boundary
- Proverbs 22:29 is prompt in his business
- Proverbs 22:29 obscure
- Proverbs 23:5 Lit. Will you cause your eyes to fly upon it and it is not?
- Proverbs 23:6 Lit. one who has an evil eye
- Proverbs 23:10 boundary
- Proverbs 23:14 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 23:16 Lit. kidneys
- Proverbs 23:18 Future, lit. latter end
- Proverbs 23:31 goes around
- Proverbs 23:34 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 24:8 Lit. master of evil plots
- Proverbs 24:14 Lit. latter end
- Proverbs 24:18 Lit. it be evil in His eyes
- Proverbs 24:23 Lit. recognize faces
- Proverbs 24:28 LXX, Vg. Do not deceive
- Proverbs 24:34 Lit. one who walks about
- Proverbs 24:34 Lit. a man with a shield
- Proverbs 25:8 Lit. contend or bring a lawsuit
- Proverbs 25:10 the evil report concerning you not pass away
- Proverbs 25:26 ruined
- Proverbs 26:10 Heb. difficult in v. 10; ancient and modern translators differ greatly
- Proverbs 26:13 Or plazas, squares
- Proverbs 26:15 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
- Proverbs 26:20 gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer
- Proverbs 26:22 gossip or slanderer
- Proverbs 26:22 A Jewish tradition wounds
- Proverbs 26:22 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 26:25 Lit. his voice is gracious
- Proverbs 27:7 tramples on
- Proverbs 27:9 Lit. counsel of the soul
- Proverbs 27:16 Lit. hides
- Proverbs 27:18 protects or tends
- Proverbs 27:20 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 27:20 Heb. Abaddon
- Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
- Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
- Proverbs 28:18 delivered
- Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces
- Proverbs 29:2 become great
- Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
- Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
- Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
- Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
- Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face
- Proverbs 30:5 tested, refined, found pure
- Proverbs 30:13 In arrogance
- Proverbs 30:16 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 30:19 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 30:23 Or hated
- Proverbs 30:26 rock hyraxes
- Proverbs 30:28 Or lizard
- Proverbs 30:31 Or perhaps strutting rooster, lit. girded of waist
- Proverbs 30:31 A Jewish tradition a king against whom there is no uprising
- Proverbs 31:5 Lit. sons of affliction
- Proverbs 31:8 Lit. sons of passing away
- Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10–31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew; cf. Ps. 119
- Proverbs 31:10 Lit. a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence
- Proverbs 31:16 Lit. the fruit of her hands
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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